Bahrain: Decision No. 76 of 2008 Regulating Work Permits for Foreign Workers Excluding the Category of Domestic Workers

Title

Decision No. 76 of 2008 Regulating Work Permits for Foreign Workers Excluding the Category of Domestic Workers

Date of adoption

Text versions

Source:

– Official Journal Issue No. 2845 (29 May 2008), pp. 20 -25, Legislation & Legal Opinion Commission, Kingdom of Bahrain, accessed: 26 June 2014, http://www.legalaffairs.gov.bh/Media/LegalPDF/RLMKT7608.pdf

Abstract

Art. 1 of this decision lists the conditions that must be met in order to grant an employer permission to hire foreign workers.

Art. 7 lists the commitments of the employer who has been authorized to recruit a foreign worker.

Art. 8 lists the commitments of the foreign worker who has been issued a work permit which include:

1. Not undertaking any work other than that stated in the work permit.
2. Providing the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) with his fingerprints, photo and signature within one month of entering the country for the first time.
3. Not leaving work except in circumstances allowed for in the law, or without the permission or consent of his employer for a period of time that exceeds 15 continuous days.
4. Not working for another employer.
5. Only working at the workplace designated in the work permit or any of its branches that carry out the same activity.
6. Notifying the LMRA and the employer of his intent to transfer to another employer within the timeframe stipulated by the decision on the procedure for transfer of a foreign worker to another employer.

The validity of the domestic worker’s work permit shall be for two years from the date of arrival, which may be renewed for a similar period of time within a period of 90 days before the work permit’s expiry date (Art. 10).

In accordance with Art. 12, the foreign worker is required to leave the country within 30 days of the expiry of his work permit unless an application has been submitted for renewing his work permit.

The work permit may be cancelled before its expiry date in the cases listed in paragraph b of article 26 of the law regulating the labour market (Art. 13 (a)).

The LMRA may grant temporary work permits valid for six months from the date of the foreign worker’s arrival in the Kingdom which may be renewed once only upon the request of the employer within 90 days of the expiry of the current work permit (Art. 15).

Temporary work permits are not subject to the regulations regarding Bahrainisation (Art. 18).

This decision repeals Decision No. 71 of 2007 regarding work permits for foreigners working in governmental bodies (Art. 20).