The initiative forms part of the Kingdom’s continuing efforts to modernise labour market services, streamline government procedures and reduce the administrative difficulties that may arise in exceptional employment circumstances.

The enhanced service specifically addresses situations in which a domestic worker remains registered under the work permit of a deceased employer, requiring the appropriate legal and administrative arrangements to be completed.

According to the authority, the changes are intended to improve efficiency, reduce the burden on beneficiaries and provide a more straightforward process for handling the relevant work permit transactions.

In its official announcement dated June 17, 2026, the Labour Market Regulatory Authority identified two principal options available through the improved service for regularising the status of an affected domestic worker.

The first option involves issuing a new work permit allowing the employee to work for another employer, subject to completion of the applicable regulatory requirements and approval procedures.

The second option involves cancelling the existing work permit and completing the arrangements for the domestic worker to leave the Kingdom of Bahrain in accordance with the relevant legal requirements.

The service therefore offers a route for eligible workers to continue employment under a properly issued new permit, rather than limiting every case involving a deceased employer to cancellation and departure.

One of the most significant changes announced by the authority is the reduction in processing time from the previous ten working days to just one working day under the enhanced administrative procedure.

The LMRA also reported that the documentation required to complete the service has been reduced by fifty percent, helping applicants avoid unnecessary administrative steps during a potentially difficult period.

In addition, the number of approvals necessary to obtain the service has been reduced by twenty-five percent, while official information has been standardised across the authority’s various communication channels.

These improvements simplify the application process but do not remove the underlying legal requirements governing domestic employment or permit workers to begin employment with another employer without proper authorisation.

Ahmed Ibrahim Al Arabi, Deputy Chief Executive for Services and Business at the Labour Market Regulatory Authority, explained that the development reflects the organisation’s commitment to innovative digital solutions.

He indicated that improving the efficiency of electronic services would help beneficiaries complete their transactions more easily while reducing the time and effort associated with administrative procedures.

The changes also reflect a broader approach to improving how government agencies respond to cases that require coordination between affected individuals, employers and the relevant regulatory authorities.

The authority has linked the initiative to Bahrain’s wider government service re-engineering programme, which seeks to simplify procedures and improve the overall experience of service users.

An important clarification is that the death of a registered employer does not automatically authorise a domestic worker to take up employment with any other individual or establishment without obtaining the necessary permit.

The reduced processing period should also not be interpreted as an unconditional guarantee that every application will be approved, since each transaction remains subject to the required checks and eligibility conditions.

The June announcement did not introduce a new service fee schedule or state that all charges related to work permit issuance or cancellation had been abolished.

Applicants should therefore verify the charges and supporting documentation applicable to their circumstances directly with the Labour Market Regulatory Authority before initiating a new permit or cancellation transaction.

Bahrain’s LMRA already operates digital services for domestic worker permits, including application procedures for issuing, renewing and terminating work authorisations through approved electronic channels.

In July 2024, the authority announced the availability of domestic worker services through the Expatriate Management System, allowing employers to manage various employment transactions electronically.

The earlier digital service arrangements also included access to transaction information and work permit data, forming part of the authority’s continuing efforts to reduce unnecessary in-person visits.

Individuals requiring assistance can consult the official LMRA website or contact its call centre at 17506055 to confirm the appropriate service and the requirements relevant to their particular situation.

The authority reported that Bahrain’s wider government improvement programme has documented, translated and published more than 1,300 public services across different sectors.

Approximately 800 of those services have undergone development or re-engineering initiatives intended to improve efficiency, simplify procedures and make government interactions more accessible.

The programme incorporates feedback received through the national Tawasul suggestions and complaints system, together with observations from investors and government service quality evaluations.

The June 2026 announcement therefore concerns an implemented administrative service improvement rather than a newly proposed law or an immigration decision issued on the date of this article.

Source: Labour Market Regulatory Authority, Kingdom of Bahrain – Official Media Centre.