Manama: Bahrain’s Parliament has unanimously approved a significant bill aimed at granting permanent employment status to Bahraini citizens working in government departments on temporary or part-time contracts. Under the proposed legislation, Bahraini employees who complete one year of service will become eligible for permanent appointments. The move is intended to provide greater job security to citizens who have been working under temporary contracts in the public sector for extended periods.
The bill seeks to amend Article 7 of the Civil Service Law of 2010. Following its approval by Parliament, the proposed amendment has been referred to the Shura Council for further review. The legislation will come into effect only after receiving the necessary approvals and completing the required legal procedures.
The proposal was introduced following recommendations from Dr. Abdulhakim Al Sheno, Chairman of Parliament’s Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee. The committee also introduced a significant amendment to the bill by removing the requirement for a separate performance evaluation before employees can obtain permanent status.
Under the revised provisions, employees who complete one year of service would no longer need to undergo additional examinations or special performance assessments to qualify for permanent appointments. Instead, they would only be required to complete the necessary administrative procedures for regularization.
Dr. Abdulhakim Al Sheno explained that the primary objective of the legislation is to end the practice of repeatedly renewing temporary employment contracts, which has left many government employees facing prolonged uncertainty about their careers. He emphasized that providing stable employment and financial security would help improve the living standards of Bahraini workers.
Meanwhile, First Deputy Speaker MP Jaleel Al Sayeed called for Bahraini citizens to be given priority in permanent government positions. He also proposed that expatriate workers should be employed only under short-term contracts. He stressed the importance of strengthening Bahrainization efforts and increasing employment opportunities for citizens in the public sector.
Ahmed Al Salloom, Chairman of Parliament’s Financial and Economic Affairs Committee, dismissed concerns that the proposed legislation would impose additional financial burdens on the government. He explained that the changes would primarily involve reclassifying existing salary allocations already included in the government budget, rather than creating entirely new financial commitments.
Second Deputy Speaker MP Ahmed Qarata also expressed support for the bill. He pointed out that the government currently spends approximately 180 million Bahraini dinars annually on foreign employees and related employment expenses. Against this backdrop, he argued that greater priority should be given to ensuring stable and permanent employment opportunities for Bahraini citizens.
However, Ghanim Al Buainain, Minister of Parliamentary and Shura Council Affairs, raised concerns about the proposed implementation timeline. He warned that regularizing temporary employees during the current two-year budget cycle could result in unforeseen financial obligations for the government.
The minister emphasized the importance of carefully evaluating the financial implications before implementing the proposed legislation to ensure that it does not disrupt existing budgetary commitments.
MP Jalal Kadhem Al Mahfoud, Deputy Chairman of the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee, also highlighted the urgent need for the reform. He noted that several Bahraini citizens have been working in temporary government positions for more than a decade without receiving permanent employment status.
He argued that the prolonged absence of permanent appointments has negatively affected employees’ job security, financial stability, and ability to plan for their futures.
Although the bill has received unanimous approval from Parliament, it has not yet become law. The proposed amendment must undergo further review by the Shura Council and complete the necessary legislative procedures before taking effect.
Once implemented, the reform is expected to benefit numerous Bahraini citizens currently employed under temporary or part-time contracts in government departments, offering them greater employment stability and long-term career security.
