More than half a million expatriates are legally working in Bahrain’s private sector, with the largest concentrations being in trade, construction and hospitality, according to official figures released by the Labour and Legal Affairs Ministry.
Labour and Legal Affairs Minister Yousif Khalaf revealed that 505,998 foreign workers are currently employed in the private sector with valid work permits.
He emphasised that Bahrainis remain the ‘first and best choice’ in the labour market, adding that the ministry continues to work closely with training providers and partner institutions to equip citizens with the skills and experience required for today’s workforce.
“Bahrain’s labour policies are designed to strike a careful balance between supporting economic growth and safeguarding employment opportunities for citizens,” Mr Khalaf said. “Our approach focuses on regulating the recruitment of foreign workers from abroad while expanding programmes that enhance the employability and competitiveness of Bahraini nationals.”
He was responding in writing to a parliamentary question from Mohammed Al Rifai on recruitment procedures, the scale and composition of expatriate employment, and measures to protect job opportunities for Bahrainis.
Mr Khalaf explained that when an employer seeks to recruit a foreign worker from outside Bahrain, approval of the work permit is delayed for 21 days. During this period, the employer must advertise the vacancy in local Arabic-language newspapers for seven days and interview qualified Bahraini candidates.
“This mechanism ensures that Bahrainis are given a genuine first opportunity to compete for available jobs,” he said, adding that suitable vacancies are also posted on the National Employment Platform, with the ministry actively marketing Bahraini jobseekers to employers.
The ministry’s data shows expatriate employment is heavily concentrated in a few key sectors:
* Trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles: 124,503
* Construction: 118,666
* Accommodation and food services: 63,881
* Manufacturing: 54,022
* Administrative and support services: 40,104
* Professional, scientific and technical activities: 26,441
* Personal and repair services: 18,101
* Transport and storage: 17,815
Smaller numbers are employed in real estate (9,199), education (7,573), financial and insurance activities (6,413), information and communications (6,302), health and social work (3,684) and agriculture, fishing and forestry (3,038), among other sectors.
Mr Khalaf noted that 2,582 different job titles are used in the commercial sector, while the domestic worker sector has 13 recognised job titles.
According to the ministry, 152,106 expatriates in the commercial sector have been working with the same employer for more than five years, based on data from the Social Insurance Organisation (SIO).
“This reflects the stability of a large segment of the expatriate workforce, particularly in technical and operational roles that support vital sectors of the economy,” Mr Khalaf said.
As of October 2025, the ministry recorded 5,748 commercial workers and 11,437 domestic workers who remained in Bahrain despite their work permits having expired.
“These figures underline the importance of continued co-ordination between relevant authorities to address irregular employment and ensure compliance with labour regulations,” Mr Khalaf said.
The minister clarified that detailed information on salary bands for expatriates and Bahrainis in the private sector falls under the jurisdiction of other government bodies, as wages may change over time and are recorded with insurance and pension authorities rather than the ministry.
Mr Khalaf reiterated that the ministry is working closely with training providers and partner institutions to align skills programmes with labour market needs.
“Our objective is clear,” he said. “We want Bahraini citizens to be the most attractive choice for employers by equipping them with the skills, experience and support needed to succeed in today’s competitive market.”
The reply is scheduled to be discussed during Parliament’s weekly session on Tuesday in the presence of Mr Khalaf.
The minister will also appear to further discuss another reply to a question by MP Hisham Al Awadhi on wage payments that the GDN published on February 8.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))