How long is probation in Bahrain?

Up to 3 months, or 6 for some jobs. Either side can end it with 1 day's notice (Art. 21).

Who pays my end-of-service gratuity in Bahrain?

If you are an expat and SIO insures you against work injuries, SIO pays it, from your employer's monthly contributions (Decision 109/2023). GCC nationals under the joint Gulf insurance rules are outside this.

Starting a job in Bahrain: what to check before you sign

Check the probation period, the notice period, and your basic pay with any social allowance.
Probation is at most 3 months, or up to 6 in jobs the Minister names (Art. 21).
If you are an expat and SIO insures you against work injuries, SIO pays your end-of-service gratuity. It comes from money your employer pays in each month.
GCC nationals under the joint Gulf insurance rules are outside this.

Get your datesFor when this job ends: every deadline as a date.

Checked 22 October 2026

On this page

Fixed-term or open-ended

If your employer ends a fixed-term contract early without a valid reason, it owes your wages for the rest of the term (Art. 111).

You can agree a lower amount, but not below 3 months' wages, or the rest of the term if that is shorter.

Probation

Probation is at most 3 months, or up to 6 for jobs the Minister names (Art. 21). It must be written into your contract, and used only once.

Either side can end the contract in probation with at least 1 day's notice.

The notice you will owe later

On an open-ended contract, either side gives 30 days' notice, in writing (Arts. 99 and 100). When your employer ends it, a longer notice can be agreed.

If your employer skips the notice, it pays you the wage for it, or for what is left of it. When you are the one resigning, your employer can waive some or all of your notice (Art. 103).

What you build up: SIO gratuity

Your employer alone pays SIO 4.2% of your wages a month for the first 3 years of employment, then 8.4% (Decision 109/2023, Regulation Art. 5).

When the job ends, SIO pays half a month's wage for each of the first 3 years of employment (Art. 9), then a month for each year after.

If you have worked in Bahrain before, ask SIO how it counts those 3 years for you.

It is worked out on basic pay plus any social allowance, and is limited to what was paid in for you (Art. 10).

Moving to a new employer keeps what you have built up (SIO). GCC nationals and Bahrainis follow other rules, so ask SIO what applies to you. More on how SIO gratuity works.

Unemployment insurance

Unemployment insurance covers private-sector workers, expats included (Decree-Law 78/2006, Art. 2). You pay 1% of your wage each month (Art. 6).

A first claim later needs at least 12 months in a row of insured work (Art. 15).

Check your contract

Probation: written in the contract, up to 3 months, or 6 in jobs the Minister names.
Basic pay and any social allowance, listed separately.
Notice: 30 days in writing, or longer if agreed.
For a fixed term, the end date.

Questions

How long is probation in Bahrain?: Up to 3 months, or 6 for some jobs. Either side can end it with 1 day's notice (Art. 21).
Who pays my end-of-service gratuity in Bahrain?: If you are an expat and SIO insures you against work injuries, SIO pays it, from your employer's monthly contributions (Decision 109/2023). GCC nationals under the joint Gulf insurance rules are outside this.