Bahrain has introduced new work rules for foreign workers, including Pakistanis.
Pakistanis working in Bahrain could benefit from new employment rules allowing foreign workers to take up temporary jobs with other employers for up to 90 days, subject to valid work permits and other requirements.
The changes are intended to give businesses greater flexibility in hiring foreign workers for short-term assignments while providing expatriates with more employment options.
Previously, foreign workers were generally restricted to working for their sponsoring employers. Under the new rules, they can temporarily work for another company for up to 90 days, provided their work permits remain valid throughout the period.
Under the new arrangements, employers may have to pay an additional fee if their Bahrainization rate is lower than that of the worker’s current employer.
Bahrainization refers to the employment of Bahraini nationals in the private sector. The additional fee will be calculated by comparing the Bahrainization rates of the two companies rather than the type of work being carried out.
Employers must also pay an administrative fee of 5 Bahraini dinars (BHD) when submitting an application.
All temporary employment arrangements must be submitted and managed through the Labour Market Regulatory Authority’s (LMRA) Expat Management System.
The rules are designed to make Bahrain’s labour market more flexible by allowing companies to recruit foreign workers for short-term assignments without requiring them to be the workers’ original sponsors.
For Pakistani expatriates, the changes could create additional opportunities for temporary work, provided they meet the permit conditions and follow the official application process.
