How to Resign in Bahrain: Notice, Indemnity and Final Pay

To resign in Bahrain, give your employer 30 days' written notice, handed over against a signature or sent by registered post (Labour Law No. 36 of 2012, Arts. 99 and 100). Your employer may waive all or part of the notice (Art. 103).

The leaving indemnity in Article 116 has no reduction for resigning. It is half a month's wage for each of the first 3 years and a month's wage for each year after that.

Write your letter with the resignation letter generator, or compare the six Gulf countries.

Either side may end the contract by giving the other 30 days' prior notice (Art. 99). If you stop work without giving notice, the contract ends from the date you leave (Art. 99). Your employer may exempt you from all or part of the notice period (Art. 103).

Probation is at most 3 months (up to 6 months for jobs the Minister lists), must be written in your contract, and can be used once. Either side can end the contract during probation by giving the other at least one day's notice (Art. 21).

Article 116 gives a worker who is not covered by the Social Insurance Law a leaving indemnity of half a month's wage for each of the first 3 years of service and a month's wage for each year after, with part years paid in proportion. It has no reduction for resigning.

The law bases the indemnity on your most recent basic wage plus the social allowance, if you receive one (Art. 47). This calculator uses basic salary: add your social allowance to the basic figure if you receive one.

Example of the Article 116 indemnity at BHD 500 a month with no social allowance, resigning after whole years of service:

For service under the Social Insurance Organisation (SIO) scheme, use the Bahrain calculator and your SIO record.

• Assault or an immoral act. A worker may end the contract without notice if the employer assaults them or commits an immoral act, and this is treated as unfair dismissal (Art. 105).
• Employer breach or fraud. First ask the employer in writing to fix it within a period not exceeding 30 days. If it does not, you can give notice and end the contract. If you prove the breach, it is treated as unjustified dismissal (Art. 106).
• Any other case. The contract ends the day you stop work (Art. 99). You may owe your employer the wage for the notice you did not serve, and a court can award further compensation in the cases in Article 112.

If your resignation follows an employer breach, claims for compensation for termination must be filed within 30 days of the termination (Art. 135). Speak to the Ministry of Labour before you leave.

Ask the Ministry of Labour when your final pay is due. If you are not paid what you are owed:

• While you still work for the employer: the Ministry of Labour complaint service is free, takes 5 working days, and needs a valid work permit on the employer's registration. The hotline is 80008001.
• After your employment ends: file a statement of claim with the Labour Case Administration Office at the Ministry of Justice (Arts. 120 to 134).
• Optional settlement: the Ministry's Individual Labour Disputes Settlement Authority acts only if both sides agree (Art. 119).
• Deadlines: claims under the contract lapse 1 year after it ends (Art. 136). Termination-compensation claims must be filed within 30 days (Art. 135).
• No court costs for labour cases that workers start (unless the claim is dismissed), and no fees for complaints (Art. 6).

More: the complete Bahrain guide.

State your name and job title, the date, one sentence saying you resign, and your last working day under your 30-day notice. Sign it. The Bahrain resignation letter generator writes one for you. Keep the copy your employer signed, or the registered-post receipt (Art. 100).

Before your last day, ask for a written breakdown of your indemnity, leave and wages, and check it with the settlement checker.