Your Rights When Assigned to Extra or Hazardous Work Outside Your Job Scope in Bahrain

In Bahrain’s construction, contracting, oil & gas, and other high-risk industries, workers are sometimes asked to perform tasks that are outside their agreed job duties or involve increased danger.

While teamwork and flexibility are part of any job, Bahraini labour law protects workers from being forced into unsafe or unfair work assignments that are not covered in their contract.

This blog explains your legal rights if you are assigned extra or hazardous work outside your job scope, and how to respond without risking your employment.

Explore how we handle employment and workplace disputes in Bahrain.

Understanding Your Job Scope

Your signed employment contract defines:

Your position and duties.
Your normal work hours.
Any special conditions (e.g., work at height, handling chemicals).

Employers are legally bound to respect the terms of your contract unless changes are made with mutual written consent.

When Extra Work is Legal

An employer can assign you temporary additional duties if:

The task is safe and related to your role.
It does not significantly change your job conditions.
You are given the necessary training and equipment to perform it safely.

When You Can Refuse

You have the legal right to refuse extra or hazardous work if:

The task involves serious safety risks without proper precautions.
It requires skills or certifications you do not have.
It violates Bahrain’s occupational safety regulations.
It is unrelated to your job and would cause significant hardship or danger.

Legal Protections for Workers

If you refuse unsafe or unrelated work:

You cannot be lawfully dismissed for prioritizing safety.
You can file a complaint with the Ministry of Labour if pressured to perform unsafe duties.
If injury occurs during such work, you may be entitled to full legal compensation.

Hire an Employment Lawyer in Bahrain for workplace legal issues.

Example:

A scaffolding worker was instructed to operate a crane without proper training or certification. Recognizing the safety risk, he refused and reported the matter to the site safety officer. The Ministry of Labour later confirmed the employer’s violation and ordered mandatory operator training before the crane could be used again.

Best Practices for Workers