Bahrain has opened the door for foreign workers to take on short-term assignments with a second employer for up to 90 days, in a move designed to give companies more room to manage temporary staffing gaps without bringing in new recruits from overseas. The change, introduced by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority, marks a notable shift from the previous framework, under which such temporary arrangements with another employer were not allowed.
According to the authority’s announcement, the arrangement is tightly controlled. A worker must keep a valid permit throughout the assignment, and the existing employer, the second employer and the employee all have to agree. The application is submitted through the LMRA’s Expat Management System, and the temporary deployment must be properly recorded in the regulator’s records. Industry summaries of the change also say the policy was issued on 22 September and publicly announced on 28 September, with immigration advisers later flagging the practical implications for employers.
The LMRA says the reform is intended to strike a balance between economic flexibility and Bahrain’s wider labour policy, which continues to prioritise nationals in the local jobs market. Nibras Talib, the authority’s chief executive, said in the LMRA’s September statement that documenting temporary assignments would improve oversight, discourage irregular employment and provide greater protection for all parties. The authority has also said the new system is meant to prevent short-term deployments from drifting into unregulated work.
The rules do not only cover workers moving between unrelated employers. They also allow an employer to assign a foreign worker to another establishment owned by the same business or linked to the same corporate group, provided separate conditions are met. In those cases, the other establishment must be properly registered and must satisfy Bahrainisation requirements. That requirement reflects the government’s continuing effort to ensure that reforms aimed at business flexibility do not weaken its labour-nationalisation policy.
The change has been welcomed by the Bahrain Chamber, which said the measure would better align the labour market with private-sector needs. Chairman Nabeel Kanoo said in a statement on 27 September that the added flexibility should help companies respond more effectively to operational demands and make better use of workers already in Bahrain, reducing the need for new recruitment procedures where existing staff can fill short-term gaps.
For employers, the reform creates a lawful route to cover seasonal surges, project work or other temporary pressures without immediately transferring a permit or starting a fresh overseas hiring process. For expatriates, it offers a chance to take on additional work for a limited period, but only within the conditions approved by the regulator. The change is therefore more of a controlled flexibility measure than a free transfer system, and it appears designed to give businesses breathing space while keeping the labour market closely monitored.
Source Reference Map
Inspired by headline at: [1]
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– Paragraph 2: [2], [3], [6]
– Paragraph 3: [2], [3], [4]
– Paragraph 4: [3], [4], [5]
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Verification / Sources
- https://www.business-standard.com/immigration/bahrain-allows-foreign-workers-to-work-for-another-employer-for-90-days-126101200068_1.html – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.business-standard.com/immigration/bahrain-allows-foreign-workers-to-work-for-another-employer-for-90-days-126101200068_1.html – Bahrain’s Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) has introduced a regulatory change allowing foreign workers to temporarily work for another employer for up to 90 days without transferring their existing work permit. This reform, announced on September 28, 2026, aims to provide businesses with greater flexibility to meet temporary staffing needs without recruiting new workers from abroad. The arrangement requires approval from the LMRA, written consent from the employee, and agreement from both employers. The worker must maintain a valid work permit throughout the assignment, and the temporary arrangement must be recorded in the LMRA’s official records.
- https://www.y-axis.com/news/bahrain-90-day-temporary-work-option-foreign-workers/ – Bahrain has introduced a new 90-day work option for foreign workers, allowing them to work for another employer temporarily without transferring their existing work permit. The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) issued this decision on September 22, 2026, and announced it on September 28. The reform aims to provide businesses with greater flexibility in managing short-term staffing requirements. The arrangement requires LMRA approval, written consent from the employee, and agreement from both the existing and temporary employers. The worker must maintain a valid work permit throughout the assignment, and the temporary assignment must be recorded in the LMRA’s official systems.
- https://m.economictimes.com/nri/work/bahrain-introduces-new-temporary-work-rules-for-foreign-workers-allowing-90-day-employment-with-other-companies/articleshow/134885965.cms – Bahrain has announced new rules allowing foreign workers to temporarily work for another employer for up to 90 days. The arrangement requires written consent from the worker and approval from the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA). Employers must adhere to Bahrainisation requirements while sharing responsibilities for the worker’s rights and obligations. This change aims to assist businesses in meeting temporary staffing needs without establishing a new recruitment route.
- https://www.visasupdate.com/post/bahrain-foreign-workers-second-employer – Bahrain has introduced new flexibility into its labour market, allowing foreign workers to work temporarily for a second employer for up to 90 days. The reform, issued under Bahrain Decision No. 2 of 2026, represents a significant shift from previous rules that tied workers exclusively to the employer named on their permit. The arrangement requires LMRA approval, written consent from the employee, and agreement from both employers. The worker must maintain a valid work permit throughout the assignment, and the temporary assignment must be recorded in the LMRA’s official systems.
- https://travelobiz.com/bahrain-foreign-workers-work-another-employer-90-days/ – Bahrain now allows foreign workers to work for another employer for up to 90 days, subject to work permit, fees, and LMRA approval. The worker must hold a valid work permit throughout the arrangement. The application is handled through Bahrain’s Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) Expat Management System. The second employer must apply through the LMRA system and pay a BHD 5 administrative fee. An additional fee may also apply if the second employer’s required Bahrainisation rate is lower than the rate of the worker’s existing employer.
- https://hrme.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/bahrain-allows-foreign-workers-to-temporarily-work-for-second-employer/134587629?commentid=134587629&frmsrc=amp_news_comment – Bahrain has introduced new rules allowing foreign workers to temporarily work for a second employer for up to three months without giving up their existing work permits. The changes were introduced through Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) Decision No. 2 of 2026, which amends provisions of Decision No. 76 of 2008 governing work permits for foreign workers, excluding domestic service workers. The revised framework creates a mechanism for employers to temporarily deploy or share foreign workers while setting conditions around employee consent, Bahrainisation requirements, regulatory approval, and protection of employment rights.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score: 10
Notes: The article was published on October 12, 2026, and reports on a regulatory change announced by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) on September 28, 2026. The earliest known publication date of similar content is October 6, 2026, indicating that the information is current and not recycled. (fragomen.com)
Quotes check
Score: 8
Notes: The article includes direct quotes from Nibras Talib, CEO of the LMRA, and Nabeel Kanoo, Chairman of the Bahrain Chamber. While these quotes are consistent across multiple sources, they cannot be independently verified online. (business-standard.com)
Source reliability
Score: 7
Notes: The primary source is the Business Standard, a reputable news organisation. However, the article relies on information from other sources, including Y-Axis and the Economic Times, which are less well-known and may have limited reach. (business-standard.com)
Plausibility check
Score: 9
Notes: The claims about Bahrain’s new temporary work rules for foreign workers align with industry trends and are covered by multiple reputable outlets. However, the article lacks specific factual anchors, such as direct links to the LMRA’s official announcement or the full text of Decision No. 2 of 2026, which would provide more transparency and verifiability. (business-standard.com)