Bahrain labour law at a glance
Law No. 36 of 2012 for the private sector: 30 days of annual leave, 55 tiered sick days, 30 days of notice and a gratuity that steps up at three years.
Governing law
Labour Law for the Private Sector No. 36 of 2012
Bahrain governs private-sector employment through Law No. 36 of 2012, administered by the Ministry of Labour and enforced alongside the Labour Market Regulatory Authority’s permit regime. It is a comparatively short statute, and most of what an HR team needs sits in a dozen articles.
One structural difference from its neighbours: the end-of-service gratuity steps up after three years rather than five, so an employee reaches the higher accrual rate faster than they would in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia or the UAE.
Since 2024, gratuity for expatriate workers is additionally handled as monthly contributions to the Social Insurance Organisation rather than as a lump sum settled at the end — a cash-flow change more than an entitlement one, but one payroll has to reflect.
At a glance
| Governing law | Labour Law for the Private Sector No. 36 of 2012 |
|---|---|
| Standard hours | 8 hours a day, 48 a week |
| Ramadan hours | 6 hours a day, 36 a week for Muslim employees |
| Weekly rest | Two days, normally Friday and Saturday |
| Annual leave | 30 days a year after one year, accruing pro rata (Art. 58) |
| Sick leave | 55 days a year: 15 full, 20 at half pay, 20 unpaid (Art. 65) |
| Maternity leave | 60 days paid, plus 15 days unpaid (Art. 32) |
| Probation | Up to 3 months, extendable to 6 for specified roles |
| Notice period | 30 days (Art. 99) |
| End of service | 15 days a year for 3 years, then a month a year (Art. 116) |
| Overtime | +25% by day, +50% at night (Art. 54) |
| Wage protection | Monthly Wage Protection System filing |
These rules, enforced automatically
Set the working week, leave entitlements and rest days once. Dawam applies them to every timesheet, leave balance and payslip after that — no manual counting, no rule remembered wrong.
The working week
Eight hours a day and 48 a week, reduced to six hours a day and 36 a week for Muslim employees during Ramadan. The working day cannot run more than six consecutive hours without a break of at least half an hour, and rest breaks are not counted as working time. Friday and Saturday are the ordinary weekend, and work on a rest day is paid at a premium with a substitute day owed.
Annual leave
Article 58 gives 30 days of paid annual leave a year once the employee completes a year of service, accruing pro rata before that. At least six of the days must be taken consecutively, and the employer may schedule leave to fit the business. Untaken days are paid out on termination at the wage in force on the last day.
Sick leave and other absences
Article 65 gives 55 days of sick leave a year against a certificate from an approved doctor: the first 15 days at full pay, the next 20 at half pay, and the last 20 unpaid. Maternity leave is 60 days at full pay with a further 15 days unpaid available, and nursing breaks are granted for the first six months after return.
Probation, notice and end of service
Probation is three months as a rule, extendable to six months for roles the ministry specifies, and one day’s notice ends it. After probation, notice is 30 days on either side. Gratuity accrues at 15 days of wage for each of the first three years and a full month for each year after — a step at three years, earlier than the five-year step used in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. For expatriate workers this is now funded monthly through the Social Insurance Organisation.
Overtime, wages and records
Overtime is paid at 125% of the hourly wage by day and 150% for hours worked at night, and work on a weekly rest day or public holiday is paid at 150% with a substitute day still due. Wages must be paid through the Wage Protection System monthly, and the employer is required to keep records of hours, wages and leave available for inspection.
Frequently asked
How many annual leave days are employees entitled to in Bahrain?
Thirty days a year once one year of service is complete, accruing pro rata before that, under Article 58. At least six of those days must be taken consecutively.
How is end-of-service pay calculated in Bahrain?
Fifteen days of wage for each of the first three years of service and one month of wage for each year after. The step-up at three years is earlier than the five-year step used elsewhere in the Gulf.
How many sick days does Bahrain allow?
Fifty-five days a year under Article 65: 15 at full pay, 20 at half pay, and 20 unpaid, each against a certificate from an approved medical authority.
What is the notice period in Bahrain?
Thirty days on either side under Article 99, or payment in lieu. During probation the contract can be ended with one day’s notice.
What is the maximum probation period in Bahrain?
Three months as a rule, extendable to six months for roles specified by the ministry. The period must be recorded in the contract.
What is the overtime rate in Bahrain?
One and a quarter times the hourly wage for overtime worked during the day and one and a half times for hours worked at night. Work on a rest day or public holiday is paid at 150% with a substitute day off.
This summary is written for HR and business owners, not as legal advice. Statutes are amended, ministerial decisions change the detail, and contracts and collective agreements routinely improve on the statutory minimum. Check the current text of the law, or your counsel, before acting on a figure here.
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