25,537 salary delay complaints

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

A sharp exchange unfolded in Parliament over delayed private sector salaries as MPs questioned the effectiveness of enforcement measures during the Nineteenth Ordinary Session of the Fourth Annual Meeting of the Sixth Legislative Term.

MP Hesham Abdulaziz Al Awadhi raised concerns over what he described as persistent delays in paying Bahraini employees, citing 25,537 complaints related to unpaid wages. Al Awadhi further alleged that some employees are discouraged or threatened from filing formal complaints.

The Minister of Labour and Minister of Legal Affairs, His Excellency Yousif bin Abdulhussain Khalaf, said the ministry bears regulatory responsibility for cases of delayed payment and has implemented the Wage Protection System since 2021 to monitor compliance.

Version

An upgraded version was launched in 2025 through a unified digital platform.

He stated that compliance rates have reached 99.3 percent according to system records. Complaints can be filed electronically.

The ministry first attempts amicable settlement before escalating cases to legal claim procedures or the Public Prosecution, as delayed wages constitute a criminal offence under labour law.