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The government has been urged to extend paid maternity leave for Bahraini women employees, under fair and clearly defined conditions that protect both family interests and workplace productivity.
The proposal has been submitted by MP Dr Ali Majid Al Nuaimi, who believes the move would reduce social pressure on new mothers and strengthen women’s loyalty and sense of belonging in the workplace.
“We want to give mothers the time they need for recovery and early childcare while also ensuring that the workplace continues to function smoothly through fair, transparent rules that balance both sides,” he said.
The proposal seeks to grant female employees two months of fully paid maternity leave, while also allowing them to extend the leave for additional periods under specific regulations to be determined by the government.
In its response, the Civil Service Commission warned of the financial and operational implications of increasing maternity leave durations in the public sector.
Women currently make up 57.4pc of the civil service workforce, and any additional paid leave would lead to higher financial burdens and could affect productivity in vital sectors such as education, health and utilities, the commission noted.
It cited existing provisions in the Civil Service Law (Decree Law No 48 of 2010) and its Executive Regulations (Decision No 51 of 2012) that already guarantee significant support for working mothers.
These include:
- Sixty days of paid maternity leave, starting from the certified date of childbirth.
- Two daily nursing hours for mothers until the child turns two.
- Unpaid childcare leave for up to two years per instance, three times throughout the employee’s service.
The Bahrain Women’s Union endorsed the proposal in principle, stressing that extended maternity leave, if structured fairly, would empower mothers to fulfill their parental responsibilities, while preserving job continuity and productivity.
“Supporting working mothers is essential to the social fabric,” the Union said. “With balanced regulations, we can strengthen both family life and professional performance.”
After reviewing the feedback, Parliament’s legislative and legal affairs committee said the proposal aligned with public interest considerations. Its chairman MP Mahmood Fardan said extending maternity leave under well-defined, fair conditions would strengthen families without undermining institutional performance.
“It’s about giving mothers the flexibility they deserve within a framework that respects the needs of both the employee and the employer,” he added. The proposal will be debated in Parliament’s weekly session on Tuesday.
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