AN urgent proposal to raise the minimum monthly income requirement for foreign workers or employers to BD1,000 as a condition for the entry, residence and sponsorship of family members, has been approved unanimously by MPs yesterday.
The proposal presented by five MPs, led by Strategic Thinking Bloc spokesman MP Khalid Bu Onk, also includes a provision requiring mandatory health insurance for each sponsored individual.
It has been referred to the Cabinet for review following unanimous parliamentary endorsement.
The MPs behind the proposal emphasised its national importance, noting that the rising number of dependents of low-income expatriate workers has ‘intensified pressure’ on public services, particularly in healthcare and education.
Raising the sponsorship income threshold, they argued, is not aimed at exclusion but at ensuring that all residents – citizens and expatriates alike – enjoy adequate living standards without overburdening state resources.
Explaining the rationale, Mr Bu Onk said the proposal is both ‘vital and urgent’ given its direct link to Bahrain’s demographic stability, economic sustainability and fiscal balance.
“It is no longer acceptable for low-income foreign workers to bring in dependents when they cannot meet the cost of living, housing, schooling, or healthcare without relying on government-subsidised services,” Mr Bu Onk said.
“This proposal protects the state’s resources, preserves social balance and ensures that those sponsoring families are financially capable of doing so responsibly.”
According to the explanatory memorandum attached to the proposal, the move seeks to rationalise public expenditure, reduce pressure on health and education services, and align labour-market regulations with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030.
Mr Bu Onk stressed that the measure reflects Parliament’s ‘sense of responsibility towards citizens and the national economy’, describing it as a key step towards sustainable development.
“When a worker earns enough to independently support their family, it reduces reliance on government services and strengthens the fairness of Bahrain’s support system,” he added.
Parliament’s services committee chairman MP Mamdooh Al Saleh underscored the proposal’s importance in safeguarding both public resources and service quality.
“This is a vital initiative that supports the kingdom’s labour-market reform efforts and fiscal balance programme,” Mr Al Saleh said. “By ensuring each family member has private health insurance, the burden on public hospitals and clinics will ease significantly. It also guarantees that residents receive proper healthcare through regulated private channels.”
He added that studies by the relevant ministries would ensure that any new regulations were ‘balanced, administratively practical and compatible’ with Bahrain’s national priorities.
“If adopted, the measure would represent, in our opinion, a significant policy shift in Bahrain’s labour and residency regulations, reinforcing the government’s commitment to responsible resource management and sustainable social policy,” said Mr Al Saleh.
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