A Look at the Social Security System in Bahrain

If you are moving abroad to live and work in Bahrain you may be interested in staying there on a long term basis and need to know what type of social security system, if any at all, exists in Bahrain. Bahrain does have a state sponsored national social security system in place. However foreign workers are not entitled to receive all of the benefits of the social security system that are offered to citizens of the country.

Unlike most countries, you will not see mandatory deductions on your paycheck stub where you have been required to make obligatory contributions of a certain amount to state sponsor insurance schemes and other parts of a national social security or social welfare program. Instead the people of Bahrain get access to the social security system without having to contribute any money at all. Since the population of Bahrain is rather small and the fact that Bahrain enjoys high gross domestic product the state fully funds the social security system for its people. If you are a citizen of Bahrain then you are entitled to a lot of state assistance including medical services and treatment, unemployment benefits, housing benefits, disability benefits and more.

If you are a foreign worker in Bahrain then you are entitled to medical services and treatment at no cost. However that is the only part of the social security system in Bahrain that will be able to receive benefits from. If you will be staying in Bahrain you should come to the country with your own private health insurance if at all possible to ensure that you get the care that you might need.

Foreign workers should also note that they get no access to the state run pension program in Bahrain. Granted there are some international companies in Bahrain that have corporate pension programs that foreign workers are entitled to receive benefits from. However this is somewhat rare so if you have been paying into a pension in your home country you should continue to do that if you can. You will need to check with the social security officials in your home country to see what implications, if any, your living abroad will have on your entitlement to receiving benefits from your home country.

While some countries have reciprocal social security agreements with other countries, Bahrain does not have any reciprocal agreements set up with other countries. That means that there are no exceptions to eligibility for the social security system in Bahrain. The only way to have access to more than just medical benefits is by being a citizen of the country.