Law No. (43) of 2014 amending Article (33) of Legislative Decree No. (78) of 2006 on Unemployment Compensation

We, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Having reviewed the Constitution;

Penal Code promulgated by Legislative Decree No. (15) of 1976, as amended;

And Legislative Decree No. (78) of 2006 on Unemployment Compensation;

The Shura Council and the Council of Representatives have approved the following law, which we have ratified and enacted:

Article One

The text of clause (1) of Article (33) of Legislative Decree No. (78) of 2006 on Unemployment Compensation shall be replaced with the following text:

"Any beneficiary who violates the provision of Paragraph (b) of Article (21) of this law shall be fined a fine of not less than one hundred dinars and not exceeding five hundred dinars. The violator shall be exempt from the penalty if he informs the office of this violation before the office becomes aware of its occurrence, provided that the sums unjustly received by him are returned.

In the event of a repeat violation, the minimum and maximum penalties shall be doubled.

And the court shall order the convicted person to repay any sums improperly received.

Article Two

The Prime Minister and the ministers - each within his jurisdiction- shall implement this Law, and it shall come into force from the day following the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

King of the Kingdom of Bahrain

Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

Issued at Riffa Palace:

On: 8 Dhu al-Qi'dah 1435 A.H.

Corresponding to: 3 September 2014

Law No. (4) of 2019 amending some provisions of Legislative Decree No. (78) of 2006 regarding Unemployment Insurance

We, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Acting King of the Kingdom of Bahrain,
Having reviewed the Constitution, in particular Article (87) thereof;
Legislative Decree No. (78) of 2006 regarding Unemployment Insurance, amended by Law No (43) of 2014;
And Law No. (3) of 2008 regarding the Social Insurance Organization, amended by Law No (33) of 2014;
The Shura Council and the Council of Representatives have approved the following law, which we have ratified and enacted:

Article One
The definition of (Organisation) contained in Article (1), and the texts of Articles (8, paragraph c), (11, first paragraph), (12), (14), (18, first paragraph) and (19), of Legislative Decree No. (78) of 2006 regarding the Unemployment Insurance, shall be replaced by the following texts:
"Article (1) Definition of (Organisation):
3- Organisation: Social Insurance Organisation.”
"Article (8) Paragraph (c):
c- If it appears from the actuary’s report that there is a surplus in the account, this surplus must be transferred to the account’s general reserve account, and it may not be disposed of except by a decision of the Council of Ministers upon the recommendation of the Minister after the approval of the Board of Directors for any of the following purposes:
1- Increasing the minimum and maximum compensation and subsidy - or any of those - in light of the consumer price index.
2- Funding the voluntary retirement programme for one time only, taking into consideration Article (8) Paragraph (e)."
"Article (11) first paragraph:
The compensation is paid monthly at the rate of 60% of the insured’s wages based on his average monthly wage during the twelve months preceding his unemployment, and not exceeding an amount of one thousand dinars.”
"Article (12): (minimum compensation)
The minimum compensation shall not be less than two hundred dinars per month, or the average monthly wage of the insured during the twelve months preceding his unemployment, whichever is less.”
Article (14): (maximum period for the compensation disbursement)
a- Subject to the provisions of Paragraph (b) of this Article, the maximum period for disbursing the compensation shall be nine consecutive or intermittent months for each time of the entitlement stipulated in Article (15) of this Law.
b- In all cases, the maximum period for the compensation disbursement is nine months during every twenty-four consecutive months, starting from the date of the first disbursement made during this period."
"Article (18) first paragraph:
The subsidy for the unemployed with the university qualifications is at the rate of two hundred dinars per month, and at the rate of one hundred and fifty dinars per month for the other unemployed.”
Article (19): (maximum period for subsidy disbursement)
The maximum period for disbursing the subsidy is nine months within a period of twelve consecutive months. In the event that the beneficiary submits an application for unemployment subsidy more than once within a period of twelve months, the subsidy will be disbursed to him during that period for a maximum of nine months.”
Article Two
The word (Organisation) shall be replaced by the phrase “the Public Organisation for Pension Fund” mentioned in the text of Article (29) of Legislative Decree No. (78) of 2006 regarding Unemployment Insurance.
Article three
The phrase “or with the Public Organisation for Pension Fund” shall be deleted from the definition of the word (Wage) contained in Article (1) of Legislative Decree No. (78) of 2006 regarding the Unemployment Insurance, and the phrase “and the Public Organisation for Pension Fund” mentioned in the text of Article (37) of the same law.
Article four
The Prime Minister and the ministers - each within his jurisdiction- shall implement provisions of this Law, and it shall come into force from the day following the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

Acting King of the Kingdom of Bahrain
Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa
Issued at Riffa Palace:
On: 18 Shaaban 1440 A.H.
Corresponding to: 23 April 2019

Law No. (8) of 2020 Adding a New Clause No. (3) to Paragraph (c) of Article (8) of Legislative Decree No. (78) of 2006 on Unemployment Insurance

We, Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Having reviewed the Constitution, in particular Article (87) thereof;
Social Insurance Law promulgated by Legislative Decree No.(24) of 1976, as amended;
And Legislative Decree No. (78) of 2006 on Unemployment Insurance, as amended;
The Shura Council and the Council of Representatives have approved the following Law, which we have ratified and enacted:

Article One
A new Clause No. (3) shall be added to Paragraph (c) of Article (8) of Legislative Decree No. (78) of 2006 on Unemployment Insurance, with the following text:
3- Payment of wages for insured Bahraini workers under the provisions of the Social Insurance Law promulgated by Legislative Decree No. (24) of 1976 for a period of three months starting from April 2020, up to a maximum amount of their insured salary, taking into consideration Clause (e) of this Article.
Article Two
The Prime Minister and the Ministers - each within his jurisdiction - shall implement the provisions of this Law, and it shall come into force from the day following the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

King of Kingdom of Bahrain
Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
Issued at Riffa Palace:
On: 16 Shaaban 1441 A.H.
Corresponding to: 9 April 2020

Legislative Decree No. (8) of 2020 Adding a New Clause No. (4) to Paragraph (c) of Article (8) of Legislative Decree No. (78) of 2006 regarding Unemployment Insurance

We, Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Having reviewed the Constitution, in particular Article (38) thereof;
Social Insurance Law promulgated by Legislative Decree No. (24) of 1976, as amended;
And Legislative Decree No. (78) of 2006 regarding Unemployment Insurance, as amended;
And upon the submission of the First Deputy of the Prime Minister,
And after the approval of the Council of Ministers, Hereby Decree the following Law:

Article One
A new clause No. (4) shall be added to Paragraph (c) of Article (8) of Legislative Decree No. (78) of 2006 regarding Unemployment Insurance, with the following text:
4- Payment of a percentage of the salaries of Bahraini workers insured under the provisions of the Social Insurance Law promulgated by Legislative Decree No. (24) of 1976, up to a maximum of (50%) of the insured wage, in companies affected by the repercussions of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, registered with the Ministry, according to the conditions and controls determined by the Minister. The payment shall be for a period of three months starting from the month of July 2020, taking into consideration Clause (e) of this Article.
Article Two
The Prime Minister and the Ministers- each within his jurisdiction- shall implement the provisions of this Law, and it shall come into force from the day following the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

King of the Kingdom of Bahrain
Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
First Deputy of the Prime Minister
Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa
Issued at Riffa Palace:
On: 10 Dhu al-Qi'dah 1441 A.H.
Corresponding to: 1 July 2022

Legislative Decree No. (30) of 2020 Adding a New Clause No. (5) to Paragraph (c) of Article (8) of Legislative Decree No. (78) of 2006 regarding Unemployment Insurance

We, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Having reviewed the Constitution, in particular Article (38) thereof;
Social Insurance Law promulgated by Legislative Decree No. (24) of 1976, as amended;
And Legislative Decree No. (78) of 2006 regarding Unemployment Insurance, as amended;
And upon the submission of the First Deputy of the Prime Minister,
And after the approval of the Council of Ministers, Hereby Decree the following Law:

Article One
A new clause No. (5) shall be added to Paragraph (c) of Article (8) of Legislative Decree No. (78) of 2006 regarding Unemployment Insurance, with the following text:
"5- Payment of a percentage of the salaries of Bahraini workers insured under the provisions of the Social Insurance Law promulgated by Legislative Decree No. (24) of 1976, up to a maximum of (50%) of the insured wage, in companies most affected by the repercussions of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, registered with the Ministry, according to the conditions and controls determined by the Minister. The payment shall be for a period of three months starting from the month of October 2020, taking into consideration Clause (e) of this Article”.
Article Two
The Prime Minister and the Ministers- each within his jurisdiction- shall implement the provisions of this Law, and it shall come into force from the day following the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

King of the Kingdom of Bahrain
Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
First Deputy of the Prime Minister
Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa
Issued at Riffa Palace:
On: 13 Safar 1442 A.H.
Corresponding to: 30 September 2020

Legislative Decree No. (12) of 2021 Adding a New Clause No. (6) to Paragraph (c) of Article (8) of Legislative Decree No. (78) of 2006 regarding Unemployment Insurance

We, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Having reviewed the Constitution, in particular Article (38) thereof;
Social Insurance Law promulgated by Legislative Decree No. (24) of 1976, as amended;
And Legislative Decree No. (78) regarding 2006 on Unemployment Insurance, as amended;
Upon the submission of the Prime Minister,
And after the approval of the Council of Ministers, Hereby Decree the following Law:

Article One
A new Clause No. (6) shall be added to Paragraph (c) of Article (8) of Legislative Decree No. (78) of 2006 regarding Unemployment Insurance, with the following text:
“6- Payment of a percentage of the salaries of Bahraini workers insured under the provisions of the Social Insurance Law promulgated by Legislative Decree No. (24) of 1976 in companies affected by the repercussions of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, registered with the Ministry, according to the conditions and controls determined by the Minister. The payment shall be for a period of three months starting from June 2021 with a maximum amount of (100%) of the insured salary for the month of June 2021 and (50%) for the following two months, taking into consideration Clause (e) of this Article”.
Article Two
The Prime Minister and the Ministers - each within his jurisdiction- shall implement the provisions of this Law, and it shall come into force from the day following the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

King of the Kingdom of Bahrain
Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
Prime Minister
Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa
Issued at Riffa Palace:
On: 7 Dhu al-Qi'dah 1442 A.H.
Corresponding to: 17 June 2021

Legislative Decree No. (20) of 2023 Adding a New Clause No. (7) to Paragraph (c) of Article (8) of Legislative Decree No. (78) of 2006 regarding Unemployment Insurance

We, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Having reviewed the Constitution, in particular Article (38) thereof,
Law No. (57) of 2006 regarding the Establishment of the Labour Fund, amended by Law No. (19) of 2015,
And Legislative Decree No. (78) of 2006 concerning Unemployment Insurance, as amended,
And upon the submission of the Prime Minister,
And after the approval of the Cabinet, Hereby Decree the following Law:

Article One
A new Clause No. (7) shall be added to Paragraph (c) of Article (8) of Legislative Decree No. (78) of 2006 regarding Unemployment Insurance, with the following text:
"7- Financing part of the programmes for integrating Bahrainis into the labour market through employment, training, and wage support programmes implemented by the Labour Fund, in the amount of two hundred million dinars, as a one-time allocation, in accordance with the conditions and regulations to be determined by a decision from the Minister following the approval of the Cabinet, taking into account Paragraph (e) of this Article."
Article Two
The Prime Minister and the Ministers—each within their jurisdiction—shall implement this Law, and it shall come into force from the day following the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

King of the Kingdom of Bahrain
Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
Prime Minister
Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa
Issued at Riffa Palace:
On: 10 Rabi' al-Awwal 1445 AH,
Corresponding to: 25 September 2023.

Law No. (22) of 2023 Amending Paragraph (e) of Article (9) of Legislative Decree No. (78) of 2006 regarding Unemployment Insurance

We, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Having reviewed the Constitution,

And Legislative Decree No. (78) of 2006 regarding Unemployment Insurance, as amended,

The Shura Council and the Council of Representatives have approved the following Law, which we have ratified and enacted:

Article One

The text of Paragraph (e) of Article (9) of Legislative Decree No. (78) of 2006 regarding Unemployment Insurance shall be replaced with the following text:

"e- The government shall submit the audited report concerning the accounts, after its approval by the Board of Directors, to the Council of Representatives within five months following the end of the fiscal year. The audited report shall be approved by a decision issued by both the Shura Council and the Council of Representatives, accompanied by their observations, and shall be published in the Official Gazette."

Article Two

The Prime Minister and the Ministers—each within their jurisdiction—shall implement the provisions of this Law, and it shall come into force from the day following the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

King of the Kingdom of Bahrain

Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

Issued at Riffa Palace:

On: 9 Jumada al-Awwal 1445 AH

Corresponding to: 23 November 2023