A parliamentary query about a proposal on reducing government workweek to four days has prompted a detailed response from a top minister, who cautioned that the move could create more complications than benefits.
Parliament and Shura Council Affairs Minister Ghanim Al Buainain said any proposal to change the structure of the working week must be evaluated holistically – not only from an administrative standpoint, but also with regard to its impact on public services, the private sector, and the broader economy. The response came as Shura Council member Dr Bassam Al Binmohammed asked whether the Civil Service Commission had studied the feasibility of giving civil servants a three‑day weekend.
Mr Al Buainain, in his capacity as the minister politically responsible for the Civil Service Commission, stressed that Bahrain’s current public sector working hours are already aligned with international norms, averaging close to the global benchmark of 37.4 hours per week.
He explained that official holidays and working hours are governed by the Prime Minister’s Resolution No 45 of 2006, which sets Friday and Saturday as weekly rest days and standard government working hours from Sunday to Thursday.
Under current regulations, most civil servants work 36 hours per week, from 7am to 2.15pm Sunday to Wednesday and until 2pm on Thursday.
Employees on extended hours or shift systems work up to 40 hours per week.
The law allows special working hours for certain jobs or entities depending on the nature of work, but the weekly total must not fall below 36 hours and employees must receive at least one weekly rest day.
Mr Al Buainain cautioned that reducing the working week to four days could increase overtime requirements, affect the continuity of public services and disrupt the salary structure, which is based on the current working hours framework.
The minister also stressed that any comprehensive study into changing the weekend would require government-wide directives and co-ordination with economic and commercial bodies to assess the social, economic and environmental impact on the kingdom.
He pointed out that flexibility is already available through remote working regulations introduced under Decision No 3 of 2022, allowing eligible employees to work remotely for periods ranging from one month to a year, subject to approval.
“Working hours in the government sector are carefully regulated under the Civil Service Law to ensure fairness, productivity and alignment with national economic interests,” he said.
“Any proposal to amend the structure of the working week must be studied holistically, not only from an administrative perspective, but also in terms of its impact on services, the private sector and the wider economy.
“The Civil Service Commission continuously reviews best international practices and compares Bahrain’s framework with regional and global standards. The current structure already places Bahrain among the lower average in terms of weekly government working hours.”
&uuid=(email))