Bahrain implements new end-of-service benefit system from 1 March 2024

• Bahrain is set to implement a new system for the payment of end-of-service benefits for non-Bahraini employees.
  
  
• The new system requires private sector employers to update their employees' salary details on the Social Insurance Organization portal.
  
  
• The new system is effective from 1 March 2024.

Executive summary

Under a new end-of-service benefits system for non-Bahraini employees, effective from 1 March 2024, private sector employers are required to pay the monthly end-of-service contributions electronically through the Social Insurance Organization (SIO) portal. To do so, employers will need to register through the SIO portal and submit compensation data for their non-Bahraini employees.

On 12 December 2023, Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, issued Edict (109) of 2023 (Edict) introducing the new end-of-service benefit system according to the official Prime Minister's Office website. Pursuant to this, the SIO published guidelines (pdf) on the implementation of the new system.

At the end of the employment period, employees should apply with the SIO for their end-of-service entitlement.

Detailed discussion

Background

Under the traditional end-of-service benefit system, employers internally often accrue monthly contributions and make a lump-sum end-of-service payout to the employee at the end of the employment tenure.

The new system, introduced as part of the broader strategy to align Bahrain's employment practices with global standards, is aimed at providing adequate retirement security to employees. It offers a potential solution to instances of nonpayment of accrued benefits at the end of the period of employment.

The SIO published the associated guidelines to provide employers and employees with more background on the requirements, processes and procedures under the new system. Further details are expected to be made available through the SIO portal, as Bahrain moves closer to the effective date of the Edict.

General provisions for employers under the new system

Employers should submit the salary data of their non-Bahraini employees, as per the salary specified in the employment contract. Additionally, employers should notify the SIO, through the SIO portal, of any salary changes.

For entitlements relating to years/periods of service prior to the implementation of the Edict, the employer should pay the end-of-service benefit amount in accordance with the traditional system.

Effective 1 March 2024, the end-of-service benefit amounts should be paid to and collected by the SIO on a monthly basis.

The monthly percentages to be collected by the SIO for the end-of-service benefits will be as follows:

• 4.2% per month in the first three years of employment (0-3 years); i.e., half a month's wage per year
  
  
• 8.4% per month for each subsequent year of employment (3+ years); i.e., one month's wage per year

The SIO will issue two separate monthly invoices to the employer — one for the monthly contributions of Bahraini and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) workers (which is issued under the traditional system and remains unchanged), and another invoice for the end-of-service benefits for non-Bahraini and non-GCC employees (per the new end-of-service benefit system).

Implications

Employers in Bahrain are required to enroll their non-GCC employees to the new end-of-service benefit system and pay the defined mandatory monthly contributions to avoid inaccurate calculations of the end-of-service benefit contributions and any potential legal repercussions.

From a tax equalization perspective, it is important for the employer in the home country to factor in the monthly payments before initiating an assignment to Bahrain.

Contact Information

For additional information concerning this Alert, please contact:

EY Consulting LLC, Dubai

• Xavier Delaunay, MENA People Advisory Services Leader
  
  
• Dounia Weehuizen, People Advisory Services
  
  
• Christine Saliba, People Advisory Services

Ernst & Young — Middle East, Manama

• Roman Gusev, People Advisory Services
  
  
• Ahmed Ali, People Advisory Services

Ernst & Young LLP (United States), Middle East Tax Desk, New York

• Asmaa Ali

Published by NTD’s Tax Technical Knowledge Services group; Carolyn Wright, legal editor

For a full listing of contacts and email addresses, please click on the Tax News Update: Global Edition (GTNU) version of this Alert.