Work Permit Breaches Take Centre Stage in Parliament Session

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Work permits issued in ways that blur the line between employment and business ownership are set to come under scrutiny, as Parliament prepares to examine audit findings that reach into the heart of fairness in Bahrain’s labour market and the everyday trust people place in public systems.

Session

During the upcoming session, MPs will review the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee’s report on the National Audit Office’s observations for 2024 and 2025, covering financial and institutional performance across 81 entities.

Chaired by MP Ahmed Al Salloom, the committee concluded its review on 11 February after nine meetings with ministries and relevant authorities, submitting ten recommendations aimed at tightening oversight and improving accountability.

At the centre of the report are findings linked to labour market regulation. The audit documented cases where foreign workers received permits while holding commercial registrations, despite being licensed as employees under sponsors and not authorised to engage in business activities.

It also identified instances where work permits were not cancelled after individuals later obtained commercial records, creating situations that conflict with labour market rules and raise broader concerns over equal opportunity within the market.

Further observations included issuing permits under the “registered worker” category to individuals already linked to commercial activity, alongside failing to revoke permits when circumstances changed.

For many, these are not technical breaches. They shape competition, affect livelihoods, and influence how fairly opportunities are distributed across the market.

Beyond labour, the committee highlighted the need for closer monitoring of project spending. It called for regular comparisons between actual expenditure and approved budgets to ensure that allocated funds translate into visible community outcomes.

It also urged the government to address low spending rates in some projects, noting that execution delays can quietly impact the daily services residents depend on.

The report stressed the importance of strengthening internal controls across ministries and government entities, and enforcing disciplinary measures when violations occur.

It further pointed to a recurring issue: previous audit recommendations remain unresolved, despite being raised in earlier reports.

Such gaps, the committee indicated, risk weakening institutional performance and slowing improvements that directly affect service delivery.

MPs have been urged to examine ministerial responses carefully, assessing whether explanations provided are sufficient or whether further parliamentary tools should be used to ensure accountability.

Additional recommendations include enhancing governance frameworks, improving digital systems, raising the quality of public services, reducing expenditure while improving efficiency, and aligning efforts with sustainable development goals.

As Parliament prepares for the session, the discussion is expected to extend beyond figures and procedures. It will reflect a deeper concern shared across society: that systems must not only function, but do so fairly, transparently, and in a way that protects both livelihoods and trust.