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Employers could be allowed to deploy a foreign worker – already licensed under a valid work permit – across all business establishments they own, provided the work falls within similar or homogeneous job categories.
Five MPs led by Mohammed Al Marafi have submitted a proposal, which they believe would grant entrepreneurs greater flexibility in expanding operations, support SMEs, and improve productivity by enabling fuller use of skilled expatriate labour.
Parliament’s services committee chairman MP Mamdooh Al Saleh said the initiative supports national economic competitiveness while maintaining legal safeguards.
“Our goal is to give business owners reasonable flexibility without compromising the integrity of Bahrain’s labour regulations,” he said.
“SMEs, in particular, will benefit from being able to deploy workers in similar roles across multiple branches.”
The Labour Ministry and the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) expressed partial approval, noting that while the proposal aligns broadly with current flexibility in the law, full freedom of worker movement across unrelated activities would contradict the Labour Market Regulation Law No (19) of 2006.
The LMRA stressed that employers must adhere strictly to the job category listed in each worker’s permit and that the use of workers in other establishments is allowed only when the activity and job nature match.
The authority also highlighted its post-permit inspections to ensure compliance. It noted existing flexibilities, such as allowing job-title changes and waiving additional medical checks when permissible.
The Bahrain Chamber backed the proposal, describing it as a step that would enhance market competitiveness and reduce constraints on business owners.
However, the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions opposed the measure, warning it could enable employers to misuse workers by shifting them between branches as a form of punitive action.
The proposal is set to be debated during Parliament’s session on Tuesday.
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