Overtime and Break Laws in Bahrain (2026)
Labour Law for the Private Sector, Law No. 36 of 2012 · Reviewed 2026-10 · Private-sector employees
Overtime
Normal hours are 48 a week and 8 a day unless agreed otherwise. Overtime pays at least 25% extra by day and 50% extra at night.
Breaks and lunch
Breaks for prayer, meals or rest totaling at least 30 minutes, arranged so no one works more than 6 consecutive hours. Unpaid.
Overtime in Bahrain
- 1.25x pay for hours past 8 in a day.
- 1.25x pay for hours past 48 in a week.
- Night overtime pays the due wage plus at least 50% (Art. 54). The law text reviewed does not define night hours.
- Work on the weekly rest day: 150% of normal wage or another rest day, at the worker's choice; no more than two consecutive rest days worked without written consent (Art. 57).
- Effective hours may not exceed 10 a day, and presence at the workplace may not exceed 11 hours (12 for intermittent work) (Art. 53).
- Ramadan: Muslim workers limited to 6 hours a day or 36 a week (Art. 51).
- Night-shift workers are entitled to compensation for the nature of the job (Art. 50).
Averaging over a pay period: Not allowed
What two weeks of work come to
Worked out by the rule above (1.25x after 48h in a week, 1.25x after 8h in a day). Hours.
| Two weeks of | Regular | Overtime (1.25x) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 days of 8 hours, two weeks (80h) | 80 | 0 |
| 5 days of 10 hours, two weeks (100h) | 80 | 20 |
| 6 days of 9 hours, two weeks (108h) | 96 | 12 |
| 50 hours, then 30 hours (80h) | 70 | 10 |
Breaks and lunch in Bahrain
- Meal break: 1 × 30 minutes, unpaid, for shifts of 6 hours or more.
| Shift | Rest breaks | Meal break |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | None | None |
| 6 hours | None | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
| 8 hours | None | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
| 10 hours | None | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
| 12 hours | None | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
- Breaks are not counted as working time (Art. 52).
- The Minister can set jobs that run without breaks, or arduous jobs where breaks count as work.
- Weekly rest of at least 24 hours, normally Friday (Art. 57).
Pay by Bahrain rules in Kloqk
Kloqk is a free time clock. In Settings, open Payroll, press Rules by country and pick Bahrain: the overtime and break rules above fill in, and every timesheet, report and payroll export follows them. Change any number to match your own contract.
Start freeOfficial sources
Frequently asked questions
What is the overtime rule in Bahrain?
Normal hours are 48 a week and 8 a day unless agreed otherwise. Overtime pays at least 25% extra by day and 50% extra at night.
Can overtime be averaged over two weeks or a pay period in Bahrain?
Not allowed
What breaks are required in Bahrain?
Breaks for prayer, meals or rest totaling at least 30 minutes, arranged so no one works more than 6 consecutive hours. Unpaid.