Bahrain Lets Expat Workers Work for Another Employer for Up to 3 Months

Bahrain has made it easier for companies to share workers, with new protections for the workers involved. The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) announced Resolution No. 2 of 2026 at the end of September 2026.

What changes

The resolution allows two new arrangements for foreign workers who already hold a valid work permit in Bahrain:

1. Within the same group: an employer can assign a worker to another establishment it owns, or to a company in the same corporate group.
2. To a different employer: with LMRA approval, a worker can work for another employer for up to three months.

Conditions

• The worker must give written consent. An employer cannot move you without your agreement.
• Both the original and the receiving employer must agree.
• Bahrainization requirements must be met. Extra fees may apply if the receiving employer has a lower Bahrainization rate.
• Both employers share joint responsibility for the worker's rights during the assignment.
• LMRA registers each approved arrangement and notifies everyone involved.

What it does not do

The new rules do not create a new way to recruit workers from abroad. They only apply to people already authorised to work in Bahrain.

What this means for workers

• A temporary assignment can mean extra experience or work during a quiet period with your own employer.
• Do not sign consent until you understand where you will work, for how long, and who pays your salary.
• Keep a copy of the LMRA approval. Without it, working for another employer could still break the rules.