BD15 Transport Allowance Proposed for Private Workers

TDT | Manama

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A proposed change to Bahrain’s labour law would guarantee private-sector workers at least BD15 a month for travel to work, unless their employer already provides transport.

MP Jalal Kadhem has put forward the amendment to the Labour Law for the Private Sector, arguing that workers are being squeezed by higher fuel and travel costs while many wages have barely moved for years.

His proposal would amend Article 10 of Law No. 36 of 2012 and require employers to pay a monthly transport allowance of no less than BD15.

Workers whose companies provide transport to and from the workplace would not receive the payment.

Kadhem said the measure would ease pressure on household budgets and help close the gap between private and government jobs. Government-sector workers receive a transport allowance of at least BD20, according to the proposal.

He said many private-sector wages no longer stretch far enough to cover basic household needs, with fuel and transport bills taking a growing share of workers’ pay.

The monthly payment, he argued, would leave workers with more of their basic salary and help make private-sector jobs more attractive to Bahrainis.

The law now requires employers to provide suitable transport for workers in areas named by a ministerial decision. Kadhem’s amendment would keep that duty while adding the BD15 payment for workers who are not given transport by their employer.

He said the change would give private-sector staff greater protection from rising living costs and bring their workplace benefits closer to those offered in government jobs.

Kadhem said he also wants private firms to offer fairer terms that can draw more Bahrainis into private-sector work.