Employee onboarding is the process that helps the new hires get familiar with the organization, with the people, and the culture of the company. In Bahrain, it’s a structured process meant to engage new employees and promote their productivity with comprehensive assistance. As for the employers, they require a comprehensive grasp of the employee onboarding process to ensure effective employee integration and success.
What Does Employee Onboarding in Bahrain Entail?
Employee onboarding in Bahrain is structured in a way to ensure compliance with the labor regulations. It enables the smooth integration of the new employees in the company. The employee onboarding process in Bahrain integrates four key phases.
- Pre-boarding
- Orientation programÂ
- Training phase
- Easing the transition of the employee to the new role
These phases ensure the new employees are well prepared and supported in the workplace from day one.
The onboarding process begins with the pre-onboarding preparations. Here, you need to prepare, sign, and submit the employment contracts. In Bahrain, under the current laws, you can hire foreign workers only if a Bahraini citizen is not available to fill the vacancy. That’s why the Bahrain government wants you to post a vacancy announcement in the local newspapers for 7 days. It should include all the necessary details, including the company’s name, job roles, and contact details.
As an employer, to hire expat workers, you will submit all the required documents to the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) for approval. It should be done before the arrival of the individual in Bahrain. You will assist the expatriates with visa, and work permit issuance.Â
Expat Medical Examination is a mandatory procedure for all foreign workers who intend to work in Bahrain. They’ll need to obtain a medical report from one of the health centers accredited by the Ministry of Health.Â
After hiring, you will need to register all your employees at LMRA. It is a mandatory step for both Bahrainis and expatriates. Enroll all your employees Social Insurance Organization (SIO) and Pension Authority. After all these mandatory requirements are processed, onboarding continues with first-day formalities. For instance, orientation, or workplace tours.
This effective onboarding journey matters to ensure your employees meet all legal requirements and are prepared to integrate hassle-free into the workplace. This comprehensive approach promotes a positive onboarding experience and work environment.
What Are the Employee Onboarding Requirements in Bahrain?
In Bahrain, the employee onboarding process is governed by Bahrain labor law. Bahrain’s labor law, Law No. 36 of 2012, sets out the rights and obligations of both employers and employees.
Key Provisions Regarding Employment Contracts
According to Article 19 and Article 20 of the Bahrain Labor Law, the employment contracts must be written in Arabic. If it’s written in another language, a translated version must be attached. This employment contract should contain all the necessary information. It includes particularly the following,
- Name of the employer and the address of the workplace
- Name of the employee, date of birth, qualifications, nationality, and personal identification documents
- Description of job or occupation
- The wage agreed upon, time, and method of payment
- Additional benefits agreed on
- The contract’s nature, type, and duration
- The other information specified by the Minister’s decision
Regulatory Timelines for Documentation
In Bahrain, employers need to follow the specific timeline regulation for documentation. The employment contracts must be prepared, signed, and submitted to the relevant authorities before the employee’s start date. This is also applicable for hiring expatriates.
Application for the expatriate employees inside Bahrain may need to be processed within 3 working days. It may take up to 21 working days for expatriate employees’ applications from outside Bahrain. As for the medical examination report, processing time will be around 10 to 15 working days.
Visa and Work Permit Regulations
In Bahrain, any non-GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) national who intends to engage in any type of employment must obtain a work permit. It is mandatory and applied to all foreign nationals.
If the employer wants to hire foreign workers from non-GCC nationals, he needs to secure visas and work permits for hiring them in any type of employment. Here, the employer will be responsible for applying for a work permit to the LMRA.Â
Actually, the employers work as official sponsors for international employees. They pay the required fees, and ensure compliance with the specific eligibility criteria.
In Bahrain, several types of visas are available. Key types of it include:
- Work visa: This visa allows residency and is valid for 1 to 2 years.
- Business Visa: Visa suitable for short-term activities or business.
- Family Visa or Residence Permit: This visa permits the families to do residency in Bahrain.
The Application Process for Expatriates
In Bahrain, if the employer plans to hire expatriates, he has to submit a work visa application for the non-Bahraini citizen. Here is an overview of the application process for expatriates.
Step 1: Log in to the LMRA system via their online Expat Management System (EMS) to start the process for a new work permit application. Click on the ‘New Work Permit folder’ and then ‘New Expatriate Permit’.
Step 2: Next, select the type of work visa and enter the other necessary information. Keep in mind that the permit period you choose should match the period mentioned in the employee contract.
Step 3: An application ID will be issued after you apply. A notification will appear of the successful application and showing fees required for the job vacancies.
Step 4: Now you need to pay the required admin fees through the Expat Management System (EMS). You can also visit one of the accredited banks in this regard. After you pay the fees, the application will automatically proceed to the verification stage.
Step 5: Pay the fees after receiving approval for the new work permit through the EMS system or accredited banks. Print out the approved permit.
Work permit issuance fees are as follows.
| Work Permit | Issuance Fees |
|---|---|
| Two years work permit (including the cost of health insurance) | BHD 344 |
| One-year Work permit (including the cost of health insurance) | BHD 172 |
| Six months work permit (including the cost of health insurance) | BHD 86 |
| Administrative fees for any transaction | BHD 5 |
If your international employee is outside the Kingdom of Bahrain, you will need to print out the residence permit Kingdom of Bahrain’s National Portal. You can do it after the expatriate arrives.
Renewal Requirements and Employer Responsibilities
Employment contracts and work permits are both renewable in the Kingdom of Bahrain. However, it needs to meet some requirements. They are as follows for work permit renewal.
- The applicant must have to be registered in the LMRA system as an authorized person.
- The expatriate permit can be renewed while he is residing inside or outside Bahrain. If he is outside the Kingdom of Bahrain, the validity of the permit is a must.
- Permits can be renewed for 6 months, one year, or two years.
- Work permits must be renewed 6 months prior to the expiry of one and two years work permits.
- If the existing permit is for 6 months, it has to be renewed 5 months before the expiry.
- A passport must be valid for a minimum of two months.
The employer generally managed the work permit renewal process. He can submit a renewal request for the employee’s work permit before it expires. Here also the employer will be responsible for paying the renewal fee of the work permits.
Here is an overview of the work permit renewal fee.
| Permit Type | Renewal Fee | Basic Healthcare Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 6-month permit renewal | BD 50 | BD 36 |
| 1-year permit renewal | BD 100 | BD 72 |
| 2-month permit renewal | BD 200 | BD 144 |
The renewal fee for the dependent’s permit will always be BD 90. It does not matter what the duration of the work permit of the expatriate. The terms for renewal should be documented in writing and signed by both parties.
Mandatory Employee Benefits
While onboarding, employers in Bahrain must ensure to provide some mandatory employee benefits to all employees. They are as follows.
- Workdays: Five days a week, Sunday through Thursday.Â
- Overtime benefits: For overtime work, or work on holidays, employees are entitled to have an extra the day time salary, for about 25%. They will get about 50% overtime pay of their regular salary for night shifts.
- Mandatory leave: 30 days of annual leave for full-time workers and time off at the time of national holidays.
- Social security contributions: Bahrain generally offers a mandatory social security program (SIO). It covers disability benefits, pensions, and unemployment funds. However, this is not applicable for expatriate workers.
- End-of-service benefits (EOSB): The employer must provide end-of-service benefits for their employees at a certain percentage. It will be 4.2% of the basic salary for the first three years of employment. And 8.4% of the basic salary after three years of employment.
- Healthcare benefits: Bahrain offers healthcare benefits free of cost or at subsidized rates. Expats can get the same healthcare services with their own insurance plan purchase.
- Indiscrimination: Employers are prohibited from discriminating among their employees based on their age, gender, religion, or language.
Social Insurance (GOSI) Requirements
The employer must register their employees with the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI). It is done to make monthly contributions towards insurance for old age, disability, death, and work-related injuries.Â
As for the expats they may or may not get a membership under the GOSI plan. It’s not a guarantee for the foreign employees in Bahrain to provide fixed monthly contributions to GOSI.
Leave Entitlements and Medical Coverage
Employees in Bahrain are entitled to have different types of leave that employers need to ensure.
- Paid time off: 30 days of paid annual leave following the service of one year.
- Sick leave: 15 days of fully paid sick leave and 20 days of half-pay sick leave.
- Maternity leave: 60 days of fully paid maternity leave
- National Holiday: Time off in each national holiday. It includes New Year’s Day, Eid al-Fitr, Labor Day, Eid al-Adha, Islamic New Year, Ashura, Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Birthday, and National Day Holiday.
- Other types of leaves: Muslim employers can get 14-day paid leave to perform Hajj following five years of service. Employees can get three days of paid leave for the death of immediate relatives. One day of paid paternity leave. Moreover, Bahrain may offer paid education leave to its employees for pursuing job-related studies or training.
What Are the Best Practices for Onboarding Local and Expatriate Employees in Bahrain?
The best and most effective onboarding in Bahrain includes efficient execution of all four phases. After the effective pre-boarding process, it’s essential to ensure a smooth start for employees through structured onboarding practices.Â
It begins with the orientation phase. Your new employees will be introduced to the company. They’ll be familiar with the leadership, key team members, and the culture of the organization. Here, HR executives should ensure good interpersonal relationships with the new employees.Â
Coming to the next, training phase. It’s important for both local and expatriate employees. Here, you will introduce the new hires with their roles, responsibilities, and the tools they need to use. A comprehensive learning management system and personalized training programs are the best things the employer can offer to assist the new employees.Â
The last phase involves making it easy for the new hires to transition into the company. Company leaders should provide comprehensive guidance and support to the new employees. This phase enables the new employees to meet their personal career goals with the objectives of the company.
How Can Organizations Measure and Improve Onboarding Success?
Well, you can measure and improve the onboarding success just by focusing on only five metrics.Â
- Job satisfaction rate
- Time to productivity
- Employee turnover
- Performance of the hiring manager
- Overall moraleÂ
To measure the onboarding success, you need to track how satisfied are the new hires with their roles. It helps to know whether the employees feel welcomed and if they align with company values.Â
Moreover, track the time to productivity. It shows how quickly your new employees have begun to contribute in their roles. When the onboarding process is effective, this time duration will be shorter. Plus, keep an eye on the turnover rates. Generally, you may face high turnover rates due to some issues in the onboarding process. Finally, check how well your hiring managers are supporting the new hires and their overall morale.
What Are the Common Employee Onboarding Challenges in Bahrain?
Employers in Bahrain generally face difficulties with employee onboarding. This is just for their lack of understanding of its importance. Some of the common challenges are below.
- Lack of structured onboarding: Many companies rely on brief orientation sessions that leave little room for effective employee integration.
- Delayed adjustment period: Employees often struggle to cope with their new roles lacking proper employer guidance. It leads to a longer adjustment period and decreases productivity.
- Limited support and engagement: In Bahrain, many employers fail to provide all the necessary guidelines and mentorships. But this is important to help the employees to connect with the company goals.
- Underestimating the importance of onboarding: Some companies in Bahrain take the employee onboarding process as just a mere administrative task. Thus, they miss the opportunity to use it as a strategic investment to enhance employee performance.
Final Words
All in all, employee onboarding is not just an administrative task, it is a strategic investment. In terms of effective employee onboarding, you should ensure clear communication and proper training. Moreover, you should provide continuous support to the new hires for their hassle-free engagement.Â
Understand and follow Bahrain labor laws and regulations to avoid potential legal issues. Employers need to prioritize these aspects and thus create a positive onboarding experience in the Bahrain employee hire market.
