Mandatory 21 day waiting period imposed before hiring foreign workers

At a glance

• Bahrain’s Ministry of Labour has confirmed that private‑sector employers must wait 21 days after advertising vacancies locally before seeking approval to hire expatriate workers.
• Vacancies must be advertised for at least seven days and then remain open for Bahraini applicants for a full 21‑day period.
• The measure is intended to prioritise employment opportunities for Bahraini nationals.
• Employers are required to ensure vacancies are properly listed to allow Bahraini candidates to apply.
• The Ministry of Labour continues to engage with employers and training bodies to support Bahraini recruitment, although detailed wage‑band data has not been published.

Bahrain’s Ministry of Labour has confirmed stricter localisation requirements for private‑sector recruitment, requiring employers to complete a defined local advertising period before applying to hire expatriate workers.

Under the reinforced framework, employers must advertise any private‑sector vacancy for a minimum of seven days and then allow a full 21‑day period for Bahraini nationals to apply before seeking approval to recruit foreign workers. The Ministry of Labour has stated that the measure is designed to ensure Bahraini citizens are given priority access to employment opportunities.

The Ministry of Labour emphasised that vacancies must be properly listed to enable effective applications from Bahraini candidates. It also confirmed that it continues to coordinate with training bodies to align workforce skills with labour‑market needs and engages directly with employers to encourage local hiring.

While the Ministry of Labour acknowledged interest in wage‑band data comparing Bahraini and expatriate workers, it noted that data‑sharing limitations and post‑hire salary adjustments prevent the publication of detailed figures, as salary information is recorded by other authorities.