Labour Migration

Resolution No. 68 on the Wage Protection System, issued by the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs stated that business owners must commit to paying the salaries of workers as stipulated in the Wage Protection System and as per the dates set in Labour Law no. (36) for the year 2012 for the private sector through the entities authorised by the Central Bank of Bahrain. The authorised entities have to disclose to the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), upon the payment of employees’ salaries, information on the full name and personal number of an employee, the salary amount paid along with the date of payment, the account number of the employee or the employment identification code, and the account number and the private or commercial register number of the employer.

Resolution No. 1 on the Implementation of the Wage Protection System, issued by the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs on 11 July 2019 provided for the establishment of a database in LMRA for purposes of oversight of salary payments by employers to employees in accordance with the provisions of the Law and resolution No. 68 for the year 2019 on the Wage Protection System.

Oman repealed their previous Foreign Capital Investment Law promulgated by Royal Decree 102/94 and replaced it in 2019 with Royal Decree 50/2019. The new Foreign Capital Investment Law outlines the requirements for foreigners to do business in the country such as conditions, procedures, timelines, approvals needed, etc. Additionally, the law includes several provisions for the protection of rights of the foreign investor such as requiring a notification by the ministry in the case of a violation and allowing a period of 30 days to rectify the offence, guaranteeing protection from arbitrary or illegal seizure of assets, and establishing a council for grievances of foreign investors.

Decision No. 270 is regarding procedures, requirements and consequences of foreign workers leaving work.

Decision No. 39 establishes a three-month probation period for domestic workers.

The Cabinet issued “Federal Law by Decree No. (19) of 2018 Regarding Foreign Direct Investment“, a new foreign investment law that allows more than 49 per cent ownership to foreigners in some businesses that could go up to 100 per cent in commercial companies in 13 economic sectors covering 122 economic activities (renewable energy, space, agriculture and manufacturing, transportation and storage, accommodation and food services, information and communication, and more.)

Ministerial Decision No. 31 establishes a new system for part-time contracts for migrant workers.

Federal Law No. 10 introduces measures for the protection of domestic workers such as outlining the role of recruitment agencies, setting standards for labour contracts, employer and employee obligations, inspections, penalties, time off, end of service indemnity, termination of contracts, and providing dispute settlement.

Law No. 13 amends the Labour Law promulgated by law No. 14 of 2004 and the Civil and Commercial Proceedings Law promulgated by law No. 13 of 1990.

Law No. 15 sets provisions around foreign domestic workers regarding recruitment, contracts, medical examination and residence permits.