Workers’ Rights to Wages and Working Hours Under Signed Contracts in Bahrain

For workers in construction, contracting, oil & gas, maritime, and other high-risk industries in Bahrain, wages and working hours are not just workplace terms — they are legally protected rights.

Your signed employment contract serves as the legal foundation for your pay, hours, and benefits, and both the employer and employee are bound by its terms.

This blog explains workers’ legal rights to wages and working hours in Bahrain, and how to protect these rights under your contract.

Learn about your rights under Bahrain Labour Law.

Legal Protection for Wages

Bahraini labour law requires employers to:

Pay wages in Bahraini Dinars unless otherwise agreed in writing.
Pay on time, typically monthly or as stated in the contract.
Provide payslips detailing basic salary, allowances, overtime, and deductions.

Key Point: Any deduction must be legal and agreed upon — for example, deductions for absences, fines for safety violations (if in line with the law), or agreed benefits.

Legal Working Hours

For most workers:

Standard workweek: 48 hours (8 hours per day).
Weekly rest day: At least one full day off, usually Friday.
Rest breaks: Required during the workday, especially in high-temperature outdoor jobs.

In high-risk jobs like construction, employers must also comply with summer work ban hours during extreme heat.

Overtime Pay

If you work more than the standard hours:

Overtime must be paid at a higher rate as required by law.
Work on weekends or public holidays requires additional pay or agreed compensatory time off.

Contract Enforcement

Your signed contract should clearly state:

Your job title and duties.
Basic salary and allowances.
Normal working hours and weekly rest day.
Overtime rates and calculation method.
Payment schedule.

If your employer fails to follow these terms, you have the right to file a labour complaint with the Ministry of Labour.

Get advice from the Best Lawyer in Bahrain for labour law cases.

Example:

A group of construction workers in Bahrain signed contracts stating an 8-hour workday and overtime pay for extra hours. For months, they worked 10-hour days without overtime pay. The workers kept daily records of their hours and filed a complaint with the Ministry of Labour.

The Ministry ordered the employer to pay all unpaid overtime and warned them against future violations.

Best Practices for Workers