Understanding your labour rights in the private sector
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Bringing together clear, country-specific labour rights across the Gulf.
The matrix provides a country-wise guide to the laws and regulations that govern the employment of workers in the private sector.
Built from laws and official decisions across the GCC, this matrix turns complex labour regulations into a clear, comparable, and practical resource. It covers the full working life — from contracts and wages to leave, termination, and end-of-service benefits — so you can see how rights and obligations differ by country.
Note: These labour protections generally apply only when the worker's immigration status during the period of employment is considered legal. The kafala system ties residency to employment. This means migrant workers who file a labour case against their employer may risk retaliation, including losing their job and right to stay in the country if their work permit is terminated.
*MRRORS references the original Arabic text of publicly available laws and regulations. If you believe you’ve found an error, please notify us at info@mrrors.org
Bahrain
Last updated Septemeber 2026
Contract
Article 19 Labour Law, 2012
Probation Period
Article 21 Labour Law, 2012
Discrimination at workplace
Article 2 Labour Law, 2012
Unions
Recruitment fees
Article 23(c) of Act No. 19 of 2006 With Regard to the Regulation of the Labour Market
Wages
Including overtime & deductions. Articles 40, 44, 54, 57 and 78 Labour Law, 2012; Resolution 68 Labour Law, 2019
Working hours
Including overtime. Articles 51 and 54 Labour Law, 2012
Rest & Breaks
Articles 52 and 57 Labour Law, 2012
Sick leave & health insurance
Articles 65, 87–88 and 172 Labour Law, 2012; Law No. 23 of 2018 Promulgating the Health Insurance Law
Annual leave & special leaves
Articles 32, 58, 59 and 63 Labour Law, 2012
Summer Midday Work Ban
Ministerial Order No. 3 of 2013 With Respect to Banning Work During Noon Time, Amended by Ministerial Decision No. 11 of 2025. Further amended by Bahraini Cabinet decision.
Accommodation
Article 11 Labour Law, 2012; Decision 76 Labour Law, 2020
Termination of employment & changing jobs
Articles 99, 105, 107 and 112 Labour Law, 2012
End-of-service benefits
Article 116 Labour Law, 2012
Your identification documents
Article 12 Labour Law, 2012; Article 389, Penal Code
Important Notes
- 1
According to implementing regulations of the labour law, shift work employees may work up to 56 hours per week.
- 2
There is a 20% cap on deductions to recover advances on employee’s entitlements. Whilst not stated in the Labour Law, this cap is also currently applied to deductions relating to overpayments in practice
- 3
Bahrain is transitioning towards a mandatory health insurance system that is expected to launch in 2024 - Scroll to section.
Oman
Last updated Septemeber 2026
Contract
Articles 33–36 Labour Law, 2023
Probation Period
Article 37 Labour Law, 2023
Discrimination at workplace
Article 12 Labour Law, 2023
Unions
Articles 12 and 42 Labour Law, 2018 Ministerial Decision 500/2018
Recruitment fees
Article 31 Labour Law, 2023
Wages
Including overtime & deductions. Articles 68, 71, 72, 87 and 90 Labour Law, 2023
Working hours
Including overtime. Articles 70 and 72 Labour Law, 2023
Rest & breaks
Article 70, 71 and 77 Labour Law, 2023
Sick leave & health insurance
Article 82 Labour Law, 2023
Annual leave & special leaves
Article 78-81 and 84 Labour Law, 2023
Summer midday work ban
Article 16(3) Labour Law, 2023; Ministerial Decision 286 Labour Law, 2008
Accommodation
Article 58 Labour Law, 2023
Termination of employment & changing jobs
Articles 38–41 Labour Law, 2023; Royal Oman Police Decision No. 157 of 2020 Amending Certain Provisions of the Executive Regulations of the Law on the Residence of Foreigners
End-of-service benefits
Article 61 Social Protection Law, 2023
Your identification documents
Article 6 Labour Law, 2023
Saudi Arabia
Contract
Articles 9 and 51 Labour Law, 2005
Probation Period
Article 53 Labour Law, 2005, as amended by Royal Decree No. M/44 of 1446 (2024)
Discrimination at workplace
Article 61(4) Labour Law, 2005, as amended by Royal Decree No. M/44 of 1446 (2024)
Unions
Council of Ministers Decree No. 12/1422 (2001)
Recruitment fees
Article 40 Labour Law, 2005
Wages
Including overtime & deductions. Articles 90, 92 and 107 Labour Law, 2005
Working hours
Including overtime. Articles 98 and 106–107 Labour Law, 2005
Rest & breaks
Article 101 Labour Law, 2005
Sick leave & health insurance
Article 117 Labour Law, 2005 Royal Decree No. 10/1420 (1999), articles 1–3, 10
Annual leave & special leaves
Articles 109, 113–114 and 151 Labour Law, 2005
Summer midday work ban
Ministerial Decision 3337/1435 Labour Law, 2014
Accommodation
Article 61 Labour Law, 2024
Termination of employment & changing jobs
Article 75 and 76 Labour Law, 2005; Ministerial Resolution No. 51848/1442, 2020
End-of-service benefits
Articles 84 Labour Law, 2005
Your identification documents
Article 6 of Ministerial Decision No. 115921/1446 on the Approval of the Implementing Regulation of the Labour Law and Its Attachments
Contract
Article 8 of Labour Law, 2021; Article 10 of Labour Law’s Implementing Regulations
Probation Period
Article 9 Labour Law, 2021; Decree-Law 33 Labour Law, 2021
Discrimination at workplace
Article 4 Labour Law, 2021; Decree-Law 33 Labour Law, 2021
Unions
Recruitment fees
Article 6 Labour Law, 2021; Decree-Law 33 Labour Law, 2021
Wages
Including overtime & deductions. Articles 19 and 25 Labour Law, 2021; Article 16 Labour Law, 2022
Working hours
Including overtime. Articles 15, 17 and 19 Labour Law, 2021
Rest & breaks
Articles 18 and 21 Labour Law, 2021
Sick leave & health insurance
Article 31 Labour Law, 2021; Decree-Law 33 Labour Law, 2021
Annual leave & special leaves
Articles 29–30 and 32 Labour Law, 2021
Summer midday work ban
Article 3 Labour Law, 2022; Ministerial Decision 44 Labour Law, 2022
Accommodation
Article 13(4) Labour Law, 2021
Termination of employment & changing jobs
Article 43 Labour Law, 2021
End-of-service benefits
Article 51 Labour Law, 2021
Your identification documents
Article 13 Labour Law, 2021
Kuwait
Last updated September 2026
Contract
Articles 28 and 29 Labour Law, 2010
Probation Period
Article 32 Labour Law, 2010
Discrimination at workplace
Article 26 Labour Law, 2021; Ministerial Decision 177 Labour Law, 2021
Unions
Administrative Decision No. 846 of 2015 Regarding the Executive Guideline Regulations for the Union’s Statutory System
Recruitment Fees
Article 18 of Amiri Decree 114 of 2024 Concerning the Residency of Foreigners
Wages
Including overtime & deductions. Articles 35–38, 56, 59 and 66–68 Labour Law, 2010
Working hours
Including overtime. Articles 64 and 66 Labour Law, 2010
Rest & Breaks
Articles 25 and 67 Labour Law, 2010
Sick leave & health insurance
Articles 69, 86, 91 and 93 Labour Law, 2010
Annual leave & special leaves
Articles 24, 70, 72–74 and 76 Labour Law, 2010
Summer midday work ban
Ministerial Decision 535 of 2015 concerning Working Hours in Exposed Workplaces
Accommodation
Ministerial Decision 199 of 2010 Regarding the Determination of Conditions and Specifications for Suitable Worker Housing
Termination of employment & changing jobs
Articles 41, 44 and48 Labour Law, 2010; Administrative Decision No. 842 of 2015 Regarding the Conditions for the Transfer of Workers from One Employer to Another, and its amendments
End-of-service benefits
Articles 51–53 Labour Law, 2010
Your identification documents
Article 1 of Ministerial Decree 143 of 2010
Qatar
Contract
Article 38 Labour Law, 2004
Probation Period
Article 39 Labour Law, 2004
Discrimination at workplace
Unions
Article 124 of Labour Law, as amended by Law No. 9 of 2026
Recruitment Fees
Article 33 Labour Law, 2004
Wages
Including overtime & deductions. Law No. 17 of 2020 Determining the National Minimum Wage for Workers and Domestic Workers; Articles 65–72 Labour Law, 2004; Article 74 Labour Law, 2004
Working hours
Including overtime. Articles 73 and 74 Labour Law, 2004
Rest & Breaks
Article 75 Labour Law, 2004
Sick leave & health insurance
Article 82 Labour Law, 2004 Article 11 Healthcare Services Law, 2021
Annual leave & special leaves
Articles 78–85 and 96–97 Labour Law, 2004
Summer midday work ban
Articles 2 and 4 Labour Law, 2021
Accommodation
Article 106 Labour Law, 2004
Termination of employment & changing jobs
Article 49 Labour Law, 2004
End-of-service benefits
Article 54 Labour Law, 2004
Your identification documents
Articles 8 and 33 Law 21 on Regulating the Entry, Exit, and Residence of Expatriates, 2015; Article 3 Ministerial Order 18 on Determining the Requirements and Specifications of Adequate Housing for Workers, 2014