How Many Paid Sick Leave Days Am I Entitled to in Bahrain?
Bahrain's Labour Law entitles employees to up to 55 days of sick leave per calendar year, structured in tiers: the first 15 days on full pay, the next 20 days on half pay, and a further 20 days unpaid, provided your illness is certified by a government or employer-approved doctor. You need at least three consecutive months of service with the employer to access this entitlement.
Key facts
The specifics, before the explanation.
- First 15 days of sick leave: full pay
- Next 20 days: half pay
- Final 20 days: unpaid
- Total possible entitlement: up to 55 days per calendar year
- Requires a medical certificate from a government-approved or employer-approved physician
- Minimum 3 consecutive months of service required before the entitlement applies
- Entitlement resets each calendar year and does not carry over, though full/half-pay days can accumulate up to 240 days over time in some readings of the guidance
What this actually means
The tiered structure exists so that short illnesses are fully covered while longer ones are still supported, just at a reduced rate, rather than an employee losing pay entirely from day one of a serious health issue. The design assumes most sick leave is brief: 15 fully paid days covers the vast majority of common illnesses.
The medical certificate requirement matters in practice. If you're sick and don't get a certificate from an approved physician (not just a note from any doctor, employer policies specify who qualifies), your absence may not count against your protected sick-leave entitlement and could instead be treated as unauthorised absence.
Because the entitlement is annual and doesn't automatically carry over, using it up early in the year for a manageable illness can leave you exposed later if something more serious comes up. Some guidance suggests accumulation up to 240 days is possible under certain conditions, so it's worth clarifying your specific accrued balance with HR or LMRA directly rather than assuming a flat annual reset in every case.
What to actually do
Rules and figures move. Confirm anything time-sensitive with the official regulator before you rely on it.
- Get a certificate from a government or employer-approved physician for any absence you want counted as protected sick leave.
- Track how many full-pay days you've used this calendar year so you know what rate applies if you're out again.
- Don't assume unused sick days roll over automatically, confirm your employer's specific policy and any accumulation allowance with HR.
- If you're within your first three months at a new job, know that the statutory sick-leave entitlement may not have kicked in yet, and check what your contract says applies in that window.
- Confirm current tiers and any recent amendments directly with LMRA, since leave entitlements are periodically reviewed.
Frequently asked questions
What happens after I use all 55 sick days in a year?
Beyond the 55-day statutory entitlement, further absence would typically need to be negotiated with your employer directly or covered under other leave types; at that point it's worth getting specific advice from LMRA or a labour lawyer about your position.
Do I need a specific doctor for my sick note to count?
Yes, generally the certificate needs to come from a government health facility or a physician your employer has approved, rather than any doctor of your choosing, so check your employer's policy on approved providers before you need it.
Does sick leave count against my annual leave?
No, sick leave and annual leave are separate statutory entitlements in Bahrain's Labour Law; taking sick leave should not reduce your separate annual leave balance.
Sources
Referenced for this guide: