Legislators have called for tighter government oversight of cleaning companies contracted with Bahrain’s municipalities, following claims that they were charging ‘unjustified and exorbitant fees’ from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for waste collection services.
The urgent proposal, tabled by five MPs led by Dr Mahdi Al Shuwaikh, was scheduled for debate yesterday, but had to be postponed after acting Parliament Speaker MP Abdulnabi Salman adjourned the marathon session at 5.15pm.
The proposal urges the government to monitor and regulate private companies that are allegedly imposing monthly charges exceeding BD110 per waste container, with an additional BD20 for every extra container.
“Many small businesses say they can no longer afford these costs,” said Dr Al Shuwaikh.
“Municipal cleaning is a public service, not a commercial opportunity. What we’re seeing is private cleaning companies exploiting a lack of oversight to impose excessive fees on restaurants, cafés, and shopping outlets that are already struggling with high operating costs.”
He explained that while such establishments already pay mandatory municipal fees as part of their legal obligations, they do not benefit from any direct cleaning services or supervision from the municipalities themselves.
“These companies are effectively charging businesses twice – once through municipal fees and again through inflated private service charges,” Dr Al Shuwaikh said.
“This is unacceptable and unsustainable for Bahrain’s SMEs, which are the backbone of our economy.”
The proposal calls on the government to review municipal contracts with private cleaning operators to ensure that pricing structures are fair, transparent, and proportional to the size and nature of the businesses served.
It also recommends that municipal councils be informed of such contracts to guarantee accountability and protect the interests of the public.
The MP warned that if left unchecked, the situation could lead to closures of small enterprises or further increases in consumer prices, both of which would harm Bahrain’s economic stability.
“We are not against companies earning fair profits,” he said, “but these fees must reflect real services provided, not arbitrary charges that burden entrepreneurs and families alike,” he added.
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