Bahrain employment contracts: probation, notice, working hours and leave (2026)
A Bahrain employment contract must be in writing and in Arabic. Probation is allowed only if the contract states it, for up to 3 months, or up to 6 for occupations the Minister names, and either side can end it on one day's notice. After probation, notice is 30 days in writing, annual leave is at least 30 days on full pay after one year, and working time is capped at 48 hours a week.
Contracts, notice and leave in Bahrain
- Arabic contract with probation clause
- 30-day written notice
- Leave settled within two years
Bahrain adds equal pay for work of equal value to the Labour Law
What happened
Legislative Decree No. 16 of 2021, issued on 2 August 2021, added a second paragraph to Article 39 of the Labour Law. It bans pay discrimination between men and women for work of equal value. The same decree repealed Articles 30 and 31, which let the Minister bar women from night work and from named jobs.
What it means for you
Pay for men and women doing work of equal value must match, so pay bands need to be set by the role, not by who fills it. This is the most recent change to the Labour Law's text on the amendments register.
Source: Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission. We check this page every week. Last checked .
A Bahrain employment contract is the written agreement between a private sector employer and worker under the Labour Law of Law No. 36 of 2012. The law sets minimum terms that a contract cannot go below: how long probation can last, how much notice each side gives, the cap on working hours, overtime pay and paid leave. A contract can give the worker more, such as a longer notice period agreed by the employer, but not less.
What must a Bahrain employment contract contain?
It must be in writing and in Arabic, in two copies, one for each side. A contract in another language needs an Arabic copy attached. It must state the parties' details, the type of work, the term if it is fixed, and the agreed wage with how and when it is paid.
Article 20 lists the essential details: the employer's name, address and commercial registration number; the worker's name, date of birth, qualification, job, address and nationality; the nature of the work and the term of a fixed-term contract; the wage and other cash and in-kind benefits. Internal regulations the contract refers to must be attached and signed. If there is no written contract, the worker alone may prove their rights by any means.
How long can probation last in Bahrain?
Up to 3 months, and only if the contract states it expressly. The Minister can allow up to 6 months for occupations named by ministerial resolution. Either side can end the contract during probation by giving at least one day's notice, and a worker can only be put on probation once by the same employer.
An employer that ends an indefinite contract in its first 3 months owes no compensation, unless the dismissal counts as arbitrary under Articles 104 or 105. In that case the worker is owed one month's wage under Article 111(a), plus half as much again under Article 111(e). That makes one and a half months' wage.
How much notice is required to end a contract in Bahrain?
30 days' written notice by either side for an indefinite contract, and the employer may agree to a longer period. A side that ends the contract without notice owes the wage for the notice period or what is left of it. While serving the employer's notice, the worker may take one full day or 8 hours a week, on pay, to look for work.
Notice must be handed over against a signature or sent by registered post to the last address given, and it runs from the day it is received or refused. It cannot be made conditional. Notice given during the worker's leave only starts the day after the leave ends. When the employer pays in lieu, the notice period still counts towards the worker's service.
What compensation is due for dismissal without a lawful reason?
For an indefinite contract ended after the first 3 months, 2 days' wage for each month of service, at least one month's wage and no more than 12 months'. For a fixed-term contract, the wage for the rest of the term, unless both sides agree a lower sum of at least 3 months' wage or the remaining term if shorter.
Article 101 puts the burden of proving a lawful reason on the employer. Our arithmetic: a worker on BHD 900 a month dismissed without a lawful reason after 30 months is owed 60 days' wage. Taking a day's wage as one thirtieth of the monthly wage, that is BHD 1,800, on top of notice and end-of-service pay. Article 47 bases this compensation on the last basic wage plus any social allowance.
What are the working hours and overtime rules in Bahrain?
Actual working time cannot exceed 48 hours a week, and normally 8 hours a day unless agreed otherwise, never more than 10. Muslim workers in Ramadan work no more than 6 hours a day or 36 a week. Overtime is paid at the normal wage plus at least 25% for daytime hours and 50% for night hours.
The span from the start to the end of a working day, breaks included, cannot exceed 11 hours. Weekly rest is at least 24 consecutive hours, normally Friday, though an employer may set another day for some workers. Night means 7pm to 7am under the law's definitions.
How much annual and sick leave do workers get in Bahrain?
At least 30 days' paid annual leave after a year's service, accrued at two and a half days a month and pro rata for shorter service. Sick leave, after 3 months' continuous service and with a medical certificate, is 15 days on full pay, 20 on half pay and 20 unpaid each year.
The employer sets leave dates, but the worker must take at least 15 days a year, including 6 in a row. The leave balance must be settled at least every two years, and unused leave is paid out when employment ends. The exception is leave the employer scheduled and the worker refused in writing, which is not paid (Article 59(d)). A worker cannot give up annual leave. Paid and half-paid sick leave can build up to 240 days. Maternity leave is 60 days on full pay, with an optional 15 more unpaid.
Can an expatriate employee be seconded to another business in Bahrain?
Yes, for 90 days through the LMRA's Secondment Service under Resolution No. 2 of 2026. The worker and both employers must approve, and the two employers share liability for the worker's rights during the secondment. The fee is BHD 5, plus a BHD 62.5 parallel fee if the receiving employer's Bahrainisation target rate is lower.
The secondment ends if the work permit is cancelled or expires, and it does not cover domestic workers. The LMRA has not published a start date for the resolution. The worker can only do an occupation they are licensed to perform.
Which changes to the Labour Law should employers know about?
Four amending laws since 2012: Law No. 31 of 2014, Law No. 37 of 2015, Legislative Decree No. 59 of 2018 and Legislative Decree No. 16 of 2021. None of them changed probation, notice or annual leave. The 2018 decree banned discrimination between workers, and the 2021 decree added equal pay for work of equal value.
The 2018 decree bans discrimination on grounds of sex, origin, language, religion or creed, and makes sexual harassment at work an offence. It also tied the employer's discharge of its wage duty to a payment mechanism set by the Minister, the legal basis of the Wage Protection System. The 2015 law changed Article 110 on ending contracts when a business closes or shrinks.
Key figures
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Written contract in Arabic | In writing and in Arabic, in two copies; an Arabic copy attached to a contract in another language. Without one, the worker alone may prove rights by any means. (source) |
| Probation | Only if expressly stated; up to 3 months, or up to 6 months for occupations set by ministerial resolution. One day's notice to end; once per employer. (source) |
| Notice | 30 days' written notice by either side; the employer may agree to longer. Pay in lieu equals the wage for the notice or its remainder. (source) |
| Unlawful dismissal compensation | Indefinite contract after 3 months: 2 days' wage per month of service, at least 1 and no more than 12 months' wage. (source) |
| Fixed-term contract ended early | Wage for the rest of the term, unless a lower agreed sum of at least 3 months' wage or the remaining term if shorter. (source) |
| Working hours | Up to 48 actual hours a week and 8 a day unless agreed, never more than 10. Muslim workers in Ramadan: 6 a day or 36 a week. (source) |
| Overtime | Normal wage plus at least 25% for daytime hours and 50% for night hours. (source) |
| Annual leave | At least 30 days on full pay after one year, at two and a half days a month; pro rata below a year. Balance settled at least every two years. (source) |
| Sick leave | After 3 months' service: 15 days full pay, 20 days half pay and 20 days unpaid a year; paid balances can build to 240 days. (source) |
| Maternity leave | 60 days on full pay covering before and after the birth, plus up to 15 days unpaid. (source) |
| Amendments | Law No. 31 of 2014, Law No. 37 of 2015, Legislative Decree No. 59 of 2018 and Legislative Decree No. 16 of 2021. (source) |
| Secondment | 90 days with the approval of the worker and both employers; fee BHD 5, plus BHD 62.5 if the receiving employer's target rate is lower. (source) |
Frequently asked questions
Is an English-only employment contract valid in Bahrain?
Article 19 requires the contract to be in Arabic. A contract in English needs an Arabic copy attached.
Can probation be extended to 6 months in Bahrain?
Only for occupations the Minister names by resolution. For all other jobs the limit is 3 months, and the clause must be in the contract.
Can an employee in Bahrain cash in annual leave instead of taking it?
A worker cannot give up annual leave, but the employer must settle the balance at least every two years and pay out unused leave when employment ends. The exception is scheduled leave the worker refused in writing, which is not paid.
Does notice in Bahrain have to be in writing?
Yes. Article 100 requires written notice, delivered against a signature or by registered post, and it runs from the day it is received or refused.
What do I owe a fixed-term employee in Bahrain if I end the contract early?
Without a lawful reason, the wage for the rest of the term. The two sides can agree a lower sum, but not below 3 months' wage, or the remaining term if that is shorter.
Each of the six Gulf states writes its own labour law, its own end-of-service rules and its own quota for hiring citizens. When Teamed is your legal employer, we apply the right rules for the country each person works in and update your contracts, policies and payroll as the law changes, so you never have to read a statute to stay compliant.
