New rules that would require the provision of seating for female workers in all private sector workplaces – even in jobs that traditionally require constant movement – could be introduced in Bahrain.
A legislative amendment to Article (36) of the 2012 Private Sector Employment law has been proposed by MP Hanan Fardan, who has stressed the need to improve working conditions of women.
The proposal introduces a new second paragraph to Article (36), which states: “The employer must provide seating for female workers in all locations where they work, ensuring their rest.”
Parliament’s services committee chairman MP Mamdooh Al Saleh said the measure reflects Bahrain’s continued efforts to enhance women’s welfare and modernise workplace standards.
The Labour Ministry argued the amendment was unnecessary, stating that existing labour provisions – including maternity leave, anti-discrimination rules, breastfeeding periods, and childcare leave – protect female workers’ rights and ensure their comfort and safety in the workplace.
The Supreme Council for Women highlighted that rest facilities were already covered under Article (166) and related occupational safety regulations.
The Bahrain Chamber opposed the amendment, warning that imposing additional mandatory requirements could burden businesses, especially in sectors where seating is impractical. The chamber stressed maintaining a balance between workers’ rights and operational realities.
The General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions supported the proposal, citing its positive impact on worker health and fairness. The Free Labour Unions Federation (Al Hur) noted that offering seating reduces fatigue-related injuries and aligns with international occupational safety standards.
Despite differing perspectives, the services committee unanimously backed the amended proposal.
Meanwhile, Parliament is also set to vote on a proposal urging the government to extend maternity leave for female employees in the public sector to 70 days. It has been submitted by five MPs led by Hanan Fardan.
The Civil Service Commission highlighted the legal framework that already governs maternity leave – currently 60 days with full pay – and warned that increasing the period would have direct financial and operational impacts. With women representing 57.5pc of the government workforce, the commission cautioned that extended leave could reduce productivity and increase staffing costs.
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