More than 2,300 complaints over delayed salary payments have been lodged with the Labour and Legal Affairs Ministry over the past four years, official figures reveal, underscoring persistent concerns about wage delays in parts of Bahrain’s private sector despite near-universal compliance with the Wage Protection System.
According to ministry data, 537 complaints were registered in 2025, up from 498 in 2024, 455 in 2023 and 353 in 2022, reflecting a steady rise in case claims brought forward by workers.
Responding to a parliamentary question by MP Hisham Al Awadhi, Labour and Legal Affairs Minister Yousif Khalaf stressed that the government views timely payment of wages as a cornerstone of social and economic stability.
“The wage is the worker’s primary source of livelihood, and any delay in paying it has direct social and economic consequences,” the minister said. “The law is clear: an employer’s obligation is not discharged unless wages are paid in full and on time.”
Mr Khalaf confirmed that delaying salaries beyond their due dates constitutes a violation of the Private Sector Labour Law (Law No 36 of 2012). Article 46 of the law obliges employers to pay wages in accordance with legal provisions, while the Wage Protection System (WPS) allows the ministry to electronically-monitor compliance through approved banks and payment service providers.
All private sector employers have been required to join the WPS since July 2019, under Ministerial Resolution No 68 of 2019.
“The Wage Protection System gives us a powerful monitoring tool,” Mr Khalaf said. “It enables early detection of violations and allows us to intervene quickly to protect workers’ rights.”
Under Article 40 of the law, employers who delay salary payments must compensate workers financially, starting at 6 per cent of the delayed wage for delays of up to six months. The compensation increases by 1pc for each additional month, up to a maximum of 12pc annually, until payment is made.
In more serious or repeated cases, employers may face prosecution.
“Any employer who fails, without justification, to pay wages on time is liable to a fine ranging from BD200 to BD500, multiplied by the number of workers affected,” Mr Khalaf explained. “If the violation is repeated, the penalty is doubled, which the law considers an aggravating circumstance.”
Mr Khalaf said the ministry conducts regular inspection campaigns, in co-ordination with the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), to ensure compliance with wage payment rules. Complaints are prioritised within weekly inspection programmes.
Once a complaint is filed, inspectors verify it on the ground. Employers and worker representatives are then summoned to agree on a payment schedule, subject to workers’ consent, with compliance monitored until all dues are settled.
“Our approach balances enforcement with resolution,” Mr Khalaf said. “We aim first to secure workers’ wages quickly and maintain a stable employment relationship. When amicable settlements fail, cases are referred to the judiciary.”
Despite the volume of complaints, the ministry noted that compliance among establishments enrolled in the Wage Protection System reached 99.3 per cent from the start of the current legislative term until December 31, 2025.
Addressing calls for harsher sanctions or amendments to executive regulations, Mr Khalaf said the existing legal framework is sufficient and deterrent.
“The current penalties, especially when multiplied by the number of affected workers and doubled in cases of repeat offences, are adequate,” he said. “What matters most is consistent enforcement and continuous monitoring.”
He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to safeguarding workers’ rights and ensuring salary payments are made on time.
“We will continue to monitor wage-related violations closely,” the minister said. “Protecting workers’ rights and maintaining a fair, stable labour market remain central to our national priorities.”
The response comes amid growing parliamentary scrutiny of labour practices, as MPs push for stronger guarantees to protect workers’ financial security and workplace stability across the private sector, according to Mr Al Awadhi’s explanation behind the query.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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