Foreign workers in Bahrain can now work temporarily for another employer for up to 90 days without moving their existing work permit. The change was announced by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), the country’s labour regulator.
The decision was issued on September 22 and announced by the LMRA on September 28. Immigration law firm Fragomen later published an alert on October 6 setting out what the change means for employers and foreign workers. Previously, such arrangements with a separate employer were not permitted under the applicable framework.
How the revised rules work for foreign workers
Under the new rules, a foreign employee whose permit is held by one employer can work for another employer for up to three months, provided the required conditions are met. The arrangement is subject to approval by the LMRA.
- The worker must hold a valid work permit for the whole period.
- Both the existing employer and the new employer must agree to the assignment.
- The employee must give written consent.
- The application must be submitted through the LMRA’s Expat Management System (EMS) and recorded in the authority’s official records.
The reform also allows an employer to deploy a foreign worker at another establishment that it owns or that belongs to the same corporate group. That option is subject to separate conditions, including proper registration of the other establishment and compliance with Bahrainisation requirements.
Government and business chamber responses
LMRA chief executive Nibras Talib said the change was meant to balance business growth and workforce flexibility with the government’s policy of prioritising Bahraini citizens in the labour market. According to the authority’s September 28 announcement, he said the existing Bahrainisation requirements would remain in place.
Talib also said that recording temporary assignments in the authority’s systems would improve monitoring, help curb irregular employment practices and strengthen protection for all parties. The LMRA added that the arrangement would give businesses a defined period to meet operational needs without allowing short-term assignments to become unregulated employment.
Nabeel Kanoo, chairman of the Bahrain Chamber, welcomed the reform in a September 27 statement. He called it a positive step towards a labour market framework that matches private-sector needs and changing business activities. Kanoo said the extra flexibility could help companies meet operational demands and reduce the need for new recruitment when suitable workers are already in the country.
What the change means for employers and expatriates
For businesses, the reform offers a way to cover short-term staffing needs using foreign workers who are already legally employed in Bahrain. A company facing a temporary rise in workload could, for example, engage an eligible worker employed by another business for a limited period, provided both employers and the worker agree and the LMRA approves the arrangement.
For expatriates, the change opens the possibility of taking temporary assignments with another employer without immediately transferring their existing permit. Workers, however, cannot assume they can move between employers freely. The assignment must meet the regulatory conditions, and the worker’s consent and necessary approvals are still required.
The reform does not allow an employee to work for a second employer indefinitely or outside the terms of an approved arrangement.
