Work conditions in Bahrain

The Active Population in Figures

Working Conditions

Legal Weekly Duration

The legal worktime is 48 hours per week adn 8 hours per day (30 hrs per week and 6 hrs per day during Ramadan). Noone can work more than 6 consecutive hours without at least a 30-minute break.

Retirement Age

60 years and 10 years of contributions in the private sector; 60 years (men) or 55 years (women) and at least 10 years of constributions in the state sector. Only 15% of civil servants retire at 60, most of them do so earlier.

Working Contracts

The Labour Code distinguishes between two kinds of employment contracts: fixed-term contracts normally expire automatically at the end of the contract. If the parties to the contract continue to obey the conditions after the contract has expired, the law considers that the contract has been renewed by mutual agreement for an indeterminate period of time and with the same conditions as previously. Permanent contracts can be terminated by either party after a minimum notice of 30 days, in writing, otherwise a compensation is due.

Labour Laws

Consult Doing Business Website, to obtain a summary of the labor regulations that apply to local entreprises.

Cost of Labour

Minimum Wage

BHD 300 per month (source: ILO, 2011).

Average Wage

Gross average monthly wage of men: BHD 311 (source: ILO, 2010);
Gross average monthly wage of women: BHD 365 (source: ILO, 2010).

Social Contributions

Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers: 12% (3% for expats)
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employees: 7% (1% for expats)

Social Partners

Employer Associations

GEA - Ghana Employers' Association
GNCCI - Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry
AGI - Association of Ghana Industries

Social Dialogue and Involvement of Social Partners

Bahrainis have the right to set up independent unions, but workers must give a two weeks' notice before striking and strikes are prohibited in a number of economic sectors. Trade unions are not allowed in the public sector, but public sector workers may join unions in the private sector. Harassment of unionized workers is not uncommon, and although the law prohibits employers from dismissing an employee for union activities, in practice many violations have been reported. In the political and civil unrest of 2011, for example, thousands of Bahraini employees were dismissed from their jobs in the private and public sectors. Wrongfully dismissed workers have since been reinstated, following the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI).

Labour Unions

General Federation of Bahraini Trade Unions
Bahrain Free Labour Unions Federation
Batelco Trade Union

Unionisation Rate

Approximately 3% of workers are unionised and this number has been increasing since the new trade union legislation was passed in 2002.

Labour Regulation Bodies

Labour Market Regulatory Authority
Tamkeen (Labour Fund)