Parliament is scheduled to debate a bill to amend Article Seven of the 2010 Civil Service Law on Tuesday. The legislative session in Bahrain will address proposed changes to the existing statutes governing public sector employment. Lawmakers intend to review the specific regulatory adjustments outlined in the amendment to determine their impact on current administrative protocols. The proposal follows administrative discussions regarding the structure of the Civil Service Law. Members of the assembly are expected to examine the legal implications of the bill before reaching a formal decision on its implementation.
Legislative Committee Proposed Revisions
MP Dr Abdulhakim Al Sheno, Parliament’s legislative and legal affairs committee chairman, outlined the shift regarding public sector staffing. He stated: "The revised wording retains the existing recruitment options of permanent, temporary, part-time and contract employment, while introducing a requirement to act on the status of citizens employed temporarily or part-time once a year has elapsed."
The proposed legislation mandates that government authorities finalize the employment status of individuals working in these non-permanent roles after 12 months of service. This change aims to modify how departments manage staff hired on temporary or part-time contracts. Lawmakers expect these measures to clarify administrative procedures for workers currently classified under these specific employment categories within the Bahraini public sector.
Government Concerns and Constraints
Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak noted that all previous temporary-contract employees at his ministry have already been made permanent. He stated: "These posts had been kept temporary since municipal councils began operating in 2002, following an arrangement that allowed each elected member to choose an administrative assistant suited to their needs from one municipal term to another."
The government has urged Parliament to reconsider the bill, citing potential conflicts with the Civil Service Law and public-sector budget constraints. Regarding the nature of such roles, the Civil Service Bureau stated: "Temporary employment is permitted under civil service regulations to meet urgent staffing needs, cover employees on leave or support specific programmes and projects."
MP Dr Abdulhakim Al Sheno addressed the legislative committee's response to these concerns. He said: "However, the committee revised the wording, removing the assessment condition and replacing automatic confirmation with a requirement to take the necessary regularisation procedures."
Current data indicates that Bahraini employees account for 98.5 per cent of security guards working in government entities covered by the Civil Service Law. The Interior Ministry stipulates that security guards employed by licensed companies must be Bahraini, with exceptions for non-Bahrainis under specific conditions. Supporting the prioritization of national workers in these roles, MP Abdulwahid Qarata stated: "Bahrainis should be given the opportunity to protect their country’s facilities and resources, while securing stable livelihoods for themselves and their families."