In 2026 a Bahraini pays 7% for pension and 1% for unemployment, and the employer 15% for pension and 3% for work injury, on wages up to BHD 4,000. The employer pension share rises 1% every January to 17% in 2028, under Law No. 14 of 2022.
Step by step
- 1
Bahrainis in 2026
7% pension and 1% unemployment on the insured, and 15% pension and 3% work injury on the employer.
- 2
The schedule to 2028
The employer pension share is 16% in 2027 and 17% in 2028, and the insured share stays at 7%.
- 3
Non-Bahrainis
1% unemployment on the employee and 3% work injury on the employer, plus the end-of-service contribution of 4.2% for the first three years and 8.4% after that, which does not apply to GCC nationals under the GCC insurance protection extension system.
- 4
Employer unemployment share
The Labour Fund pays the employer share of unemployment insurance for private sector workers, under Article 6 of Decree-Law No. 78 of 2006.
- 5
Wage cap
BHD 4,000 a month. Pay above that is not subject to contributions.
- 6
New registrants
Decree-Law No. 44 of 2026 bases the contributions of people under old age, disability and death insurance who register for the first time after it took effect on a minimum wage set by Cabinet decision, so check the decision in force when registering an employee.
Using the same employer pension rate every year is a common mistake. It rises 1% each January until 2028, so update payroll at the start of every year.
- social insurance rates for bahraini employee and employer 2026
- sio contributions for expatriates