The country has abolished its 2016 FlexiPermit system, which allowed expatriates to enter and reside in the country for two years without a predetermined employer.
Allows eligible categories of foreign nationals to reside in Bahrain for extended periods of time without having to renew their residence permit, while attracting investment and highly-skilled professionals into Bahrain.
The LMRA affirmed that the programme is being launched in cooperation with the private sector and will streamline the process of registering for an occupation. The new measures will link work permits to vocational and occupational standards to increase safety and protections in places of work.
On 17 October 2022, the Labour Market Regulatory Authority launched the Labour Registration Program in partnership with the private sector through Labour Registration Centers with the aim of providing a safe and balanced-work environment that preserves the rights of all parties and the society, enhancing the efforts to eliminate irregular workers and linking work permits to vocational standards and qualifications.
Article 1: Residence permit holders of an employer (flexible worker) shall be revoked three months after the date of implementation of this decision, and they have the right to reconcile their situation before the expiration of that period by obtaining permits approved by the Labor Market Regulatory Authority to practice a professional activity and register in labor registration centers.
Article Two: The issuance of a permit to practice a professional activity requires the obligation to pay the fee for extending the expired residency and the delay fee for those who failed to issue or renew the residency for work, and due for the last year or part of the year before the date of submitting the application, which are specified in the fee schedule for the services of the General Administration of Nationality, Passports and Residence, corresponding to Resolution No. (196) of 2014 regarding fees for the services of the General Administration of Nationality, Passports and Residence. Exemption from fees due for years prior to the date referred to in the preceding paragraph is provided, provided that the permit applicant fulfills the conditions and controls of the permit, and that there are no reservations regarding his continued stay in the Kingdom.
An amount of five dinars is calculated for the issuance of a labor card for foreign workers who are authorized to practice professional activities, after issuing or renewing the permit. A monthly sum of five dinars is collected for following up on the commitment of foreign workers who are authorized to practice professional activities to register in labor registration centers approved by the Labor Market Regulatory Authority for this purpose.
Article Two: Resolution No. 17 of 2017 regarding the approval of professional activities that a foreign employer may not practice without obtaining a permit from the Labor Market Regulatory Authority is cancelled. The decision was issued on October 11, 2022.
The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), in cooperation with the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) and the Bahrain Insurance Association (BIA), has announced the commencement of the Optional Insurance System for Domestic Workers on 4 August 2021. The System aims to protect employers and domestic expatriate workers following any incident that covers for insurance.
The Ministry has extended the scope of the term "family" relative to the distribution of visas amongst family members of foreign workers in the Kingdom, to now include "spouse, children or parents."
The Minister of Health issued decision No. 27 suspending for 3 months starting April 9, 2020 the general medical consultation fee of BHD 7, paid by non-Bahrainis in health institutions affiliated to the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Health also committed to providing free medical and health care services for Coronavirus testing, quarantine and treatment to all alike and for free in preventive quarantine centres and isolation and treatment centres for COVID-19.