| The Kingdom of Bahrain is the smallest of all Gulf | | | | worker while being in Bahrain. Thus, the employer does |
| sates. Its population stands nearly at 620,000. | | | | all the necessary background check to determine if |
| However, in terms of the influence that the country | | | | the person is reliable and trustworthy or not. This |
| wields in the area, it is an important country. Currently, it | | | | ensures that the workers stay on the right side of the |
| is in a transitional stage. A lot of development is taking | | | | law and do not contravene any law or regulations. On |
| place and there is a huge demand of skilled expatriate | | | | the other hand, the sponsor is also a good source of |
| workers in Bahrain. This has led to a flood of job | | | | information and help which would be required greatly in |
| opportunities in infrastructure, construction, tourism, | | | | Bahrain as it is a conservative country with very strict |
| healthcare and oil & gas. Bahrain is an absolute | | | | laws of living. |
| monarchy and has a very conservative culture. It does | | | | Despite strict rules and a conservative culture, the |
| not allow the expatriate workers to become a part of | | | | biggest attraction that pulls the foreign workforce to |
| the permanent population. Thus, all foreign workers are | | | | Bahrain is remuneration. Bahrain pays very good |
| hired on a contractual basis for a limited period of time. | | | | salaries to foreign workers, sometimes even higher |
| The country offers a luxurious and mostly safe | | | | than those paid in the western countries. Also, there is |
| lifestyle and good salary jobs, which is the reason why | | | | no personal taxation so whatever one earns is for |
| foreign workers throng here. | | | | keeps. The net income becomes high leading to a |
| Before taking up employment in Bahrain, there are a | | | | luxurious lifestyle and higher savings. Earlier, the salary |
| few things that one needs to keep in mind. This write | | | | structure was divided under various heads such as |
| up will touch upon all facets of employment in Bahrain, | | | | basic salary, housing provision or allowance, medical |
| one by one. Firstly, any expatriate worker who wishes | | | | cover, car provision or allowance, education for |
| to work in Bahrain requires a local sponsor. This is a | | | | children and air tickets for home visits. However, this is |
| must to visit Bahrain or live and work there. The term | | | | not functional any more. These days, employers prefer |
| ‘sponsor’ refers to a sort of guardian or a | | | | to give just one salary which covers all this. |
| guarantor who is required to undertake all | | | | Apart from the salary, contract workers are also given |
| administrative work and fulfill all formalities on behalf of | | | | an indemnity at the expiry of the contract period. This |
| the foreigner. It is the sponsor who applies for the | | | | is kind of an end-of-contract bonus. Those who have |
| work permit and the residential visa. Other formalities | | | | been working in Bahrain for long can accumulate a |
| such as opening a bank account or signing a rental | | | | large amount of indemnity amount. It is not an |
| accommodation contract also take place through the | | | | insurance amount but just a way of the state to thank |
| sponsor only. | | | | the expatriate workers for their services. It is usually |
| For expatriates who take up job offers in Bahrain, it is | | | | based on basic salary excluding any bonuses. |
| generally the employer who acts as a sponsor. For | | | | The working hours in a week in Bahrain are generally |
| those, who wish to start a business in Bahrain, the | | | | between 40 and 48 hours. It also depends on the |
| requirements are different. No foreigner can start a | | | | policies of particular companies. In the holy month of |
| fully-owned business in Bahrain. One can only do so in | | | | Ramadan, the working day is generally reduced to six |
| partnership with a local who holds the majority stake. | | | | hours but some companies make this change only for |
| Thus, for setting up a business in Bahrain, one should | | | | Muslim employees. The off day is Friday. For those |
| first look for a local partner. It is also advisable to study | | | | companies that have a five-day work week, the other |
| and research the local business environment to gauge | | | | off day is generally a Thursday or a Saturday. |
| the prospects of the business. It is good to have | | | | Other thing that one has to keep in mind while working |
| strong local contacts in Bahrain. For jobseekers too, it | | | | in Bahrain is that it is a very conservative society. It |
| is advisable to network with the locals. | | | | considers homosexuality and live-in relationships a |
| Bahrain is very strict about its sponsorship rules. It is an | | | | crime, just like most other Arabic countries. The |
| effective way for the authorities to control the flow of | | | | punishment for breaking laws is also severe. So, one |
| people in the country. The sponsor is totally responsible | | | | has to be on the right side of the law to enjoy staying |
| for the stay of the worker and the behavior of the | | | | and working in Bahrain. |