Labour Market Regulatory Authority

Issuance of an Employment Office License

This service is provided to individuals wishing to obtain initial approval to issue an employment office license, as this license allows the licensee to search for a suitable employee for an employer and facilitate the conclusion of an employment contract between the two parties, which includes hiring domestic employees and providing services to other companies and various institutions to employ expatriate employees to fill specific jobs. These companies or institutions also include the employment of Bahrainis.

The license is issued in two stages: the initial approval stage and the license issuance stage. The license applicant can practice the activity after issuing the license by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority, which is valid for one year, provided that he/ she submits an application to renew the license on an annual basis.

Service Conditions

• The application shall be subject to the provisions, laws, systems, regulations and resolutions issued by the competent bodies and applicable within Kingdom of Bahrain.
• Must be a Bahraini citizen or a juristic person fully owned by him.
• Must settle all the dues and fees of the Authority.
• The applicant, licensee or employer should not have breached any of the fundamental obligations that are imposed by the Labour Market Regulation Law, or the regulations, rules or orders issued in the implementation thereof.
• There should be no recruitment office permit has been previously issued to the applicant that was cancelled in accordance with the provisions of the Law.
• Payment of the adjudged fines under final judgements in accordance with the Labour Market Regulatory Law.
• The license applicant should not own any commercial activity which contradicts with the required activity according to the administrative regulations of license approval.
• The applicant must not be registered as an employee in the Social Insurance Authority system.
• The license applicant must pass a personal interview with the concerned authorities.
• Running the business of employment office shall be conducted personally by the licensee, and licensee shall be responsible to refer to LMRA, whenever necessary.
• Provision of a temporary and suitable accommodation under supervision of a female in case of applying for an employment activity of domestic employees, in addition to notify LMRA immediately upon any change of address or accommodation supervisor.
• The licensee must operate the business from the approved premises and independently from any other activity, except for any other relevant activities according to license terms and conditions.
• To deposit the sum of BHD 10,000/- as a guarantee deposit with the Authority.
• The Licensee may not use the business premises for housing domestic employees.
• Place the license certificate in a visible place at business headquarter and in temporary accommodation assigned for females.
• Notify the Authority immediately in the event of changing or updating information in the application form, liquidation of the activity, declaration of bankruptcy or the striking out of their entry in the Commercial Registry.
• Enabling LMRA and inspectors thereof to enter the premises of the facility or accommodation assigned to the household work of the facility at any time.
• Commitment to conclude standard contracts approved by LMRA and use of Tripartite Domestic Contract.
• The license shall expire at the end of its original or renewed term, and the licensee shall apply for renewal by the same stipulated procedures and terms, prior to the expiry of the license validity, with a period not exceeding sixty days and not less than thirty days.
• The license shall be cancelled if the licensee obtains the license based on false documents or information, has lost one or more of the conditions required for granting the permit, a final criminal judgment is passed against the licensee, involving a criminal punishment in a crime that affects honour or integrity.
• The insurance amount deposited in LMRA's account shall be refunded after three months from the date of license cancellation according to the administrative procedures.
• Pre-approval period is three months for the completion of required final approvals. In the case of the expiry of the pre-approval period, the application is automatically cancelled.

Required Documents

Process Description

1. Submitting an application via Sijilat’s system of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
2. The application is transferred to the Labour Market Regulatory Authority to issue a license for paracticing the activity of an employment office.
3. LMRA will verify if all the required documents were attached. If the application does not meet the requirements, it will be rejected and returned to the applicant to complete the missing documents.
4. The applicant is informed of the approval or rejection of the application via the Sijilat system.
5. Depositing BHD 10,000 as a financial guarantee with the Labour Market Regulatory Authority after obtaining the initial approval to issue the license.

Legal Regulations

• Law No. (19) of 2006 with Regard to the Regulation of the Labour Market - Article No. (28, 29).
• Resolution No. (1) of 2014 Regulating Licenses for Employment Offices.

Fees

• BHD 200: The license fees are to be paid to the Labour Market Regulatory Authority after the license issuance approval.

Processing Time

• 20 days for initial approval.
• 20 days to issue the license.

Cooperative Entities

• Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC).

Service Access

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