- Authority:
This Regulation is issued under authority of Rusolution No. 2 for 1980 issued by the Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs.
- Purpose:
To established procedures and provide information as needed by Ministries and all levels of management and supervisors for the effective administration of the following types of Authorized Absences and Special Leaves for all the employees of the Government of the State of Bahrain:
- Maternity Leave
- Suckling Leave
- Wedding Leave
- Bereavement Leave
- Widows Leave
- Accompanying Leave
- Quarantine Absence
- Pilgrimage Leave
- Excused Absence for Official Duty
- Extended Leave without Pay
- Policy:
The administration of the various types of Authorized Absences and Special Leaves listed in paragraph 2 of this Regulation will he conducted on a uniform and equitable has is will due consideration to the needs of the Government of the State of Bahrain and the welfare of the individual employee.
- Responsibilities:
- The Civil Service Bureau: The Civil Service Bureau his time primary responsibility for the administration of this Regulation and for Insuring that the procedures stated herein are followed.
- Supervisors: Supervisors at all levels of management in the Ministries are responsible for insuring that the requirements of this Regulation are applied properly and equitably.
- Scope:
This Regulation establishes procedures and responsibilities for authorizing the types of authorized absence and special leaves Included in paragraph 2 of this Regulation for all employees of the Government of the State of Bahrain in except as noted in paragraph 6 of this Regulation.
- Eligibility:
All employees of the Government of the State of Bahrain except the following categories of employees listed below are eligible for the leaves covered by this Regulation.
- Consultants and contract hire on daily (per diem) basis;
- Temporary employees appointed for less than 90 days
- Part-time employees;
- Administration of each type of authorized absences and special leaves:
- Maternity Leave:
- Maternity leave wilt be at the rate of 40 work days beginning from the first day of confinement.
- The periods of absence due to illness before or after maternity leave confinement will he considered as periods of incapacitation under the Sick Leave Regulation No. 602 provided it is supported by a medical certificate.
- Female employees are eligible for maternity leave with pay upon the completion of the probationary period. If the employee has not completed the probationary period, the maternity leave shall be without pay.
- Supervisors are responsible for initiating and completing Standard Form No. 19 (A). A copy of the completed and approved medical certificate Should be forwarded to the Civil Service Bureau for necessary action.
- Suckling Leave:
- A nursing mother is authorized one hour suckling leave each work day upto 4 months from date of delivery.
- Absence beyond the one hour suckling leave and authorized travel time will be charged to annual leave or leave without pay. The employee will be responsible for transport to and from her work.
- Ministries will establish their own specific rules to implement these provisions according to their work conditions.
- Wedding Leave:
The employee shall be entitled to 3 work days with pay as wedding leave provided it is supported by the marriage document.
- Bereavement Leave:
The employee shall be entitled to 3 calendar days with pay as bereavement leave in the event of the death of any on his or her relatives to time fourth degree of relationship.
- Widows Leave:
Upon time death of the husband of aim employee of the Muslim faith, the widow employee qualifies for consideration for widows Leave for a period of up to 30 days with pay and with an option for an Additional Leave of Absence without pay for a period of up to 3 months and 10 days.
- Accompanying Leave:
- Accompanying leave is considered as an authorized absence with pay when time employee is to escort a person in need of medical treatment outside the State of Bahrain provided that such treatment is authorized by the Medical Commission. Accompanying leave is not authorized to escort ambulatory males over 16 years of age.
- Request for accompanying leave will be initiated by employee by completing and submitting Civil Service Bureau Standard Form No. 19 (A) a long with the certificate from the Medical Commission to the approving authority in his Ministry upon approval a copy of Standard Form No. 19 (A) must be send to the payroll Section in the Ministry.
- Accompanying leave may not exceed 60 calendar days. Any periods of absence in excess of calendar days will be charged against the employee’s annual leave balance or leave without pay as appropriate.
- Quarantine Absence:
This absence is authorized with pay when the employee is exposed to a contagious disease which has been determined by the Medical authority and for which the employee is required to he confined in the quarantine area. Upon return to duty, the employee must present a certificate or a letter from the competent health authority for his absence
- Pilgrimage Leave:
Employees of the Muslim faith who have completed a minimum of 10 years of continuous and satisfactory service in the Government of the State of Bahrain may be approved, upon the request of their Director, the privilege at a paid leave of absence of up to 21 days for the purpose of going on Pilgrimage to Mecca. This privilege of absence with pay is provided only once during the entire period of the employee’s service.
- Excused Absence for Official Duty:
Employees summoned as witnesses by the court to aid in an investigation, or assist in or participate in an activity that is determined to be of benefit to the Government may be excused with pay provided the employee presents an official document to his supervisor attesting to his presence. The period of excused absence will be determined by the official document presented
- Extended Leave without Pay:
- All periods of leave without pay may be authorized after all annual leave credit has been used.
- Leave without pay may be granted to the employee for up to twelve (12) months according to the employee s request and with due consideration to the work requirements. This period of leave without pay may be extended for another additional 12 months upon request by the employee subject to recommendation by the Ministry and approval of the Civil Service Bureau.
- No Annual or Sick leave is earned during periods of authorized absence without pay in excess of 30 days.
- Periods of authorized absence without pay in excess of 30 days are considered as extended leave without pay and are not credited towards length of service not to be granted without prior approval of the Civil Service Bureau.
- The following are examples where extended leave without pay may be appropriate:
- Accompanying the husband for long term assignment or education outside Bahrain.
- Caring for a sick baby where the mothers presence is necessary.
- Extension of widows period (3 months and 10 days)
- Cases quoted above and others will he studied and reviewed by time Civil Service Bureau before authorizing leave without pay.
- Request for leave without pay will be initiated by time employee by completing and submitting Civil Service Standard Form No. 19 (A) to the approving authority in his Ministry. Upon approval by the Ministry, a copy of Standard Forum No. 19 (A) will be submitted to the Civil Service Bureau fur final approval and necessary action.
- Upon approval of the Civil Service Bureau, a copy of Standard Form No. 19 (A) will be sent to the Payroll Section in time concerned Ministry.
- A letter of notification will be forwarded to the Pension Fund Commission informing them to freeze the employee’s pension during the period of leave without pay in excess of 30 days.
- In cases of custody or imprisonment of the employee , the period of his absence from work will be determined upon the court judgment . If the employee has been declared to be innocent, the period he spent in custody or imprisonment shall be with full pay if the arrest was initiated by the Government, otherwise it will be treated as leave with out pay. If the employee is incriminated, the period of absence shall be with out pay provided determination has been made to retain his service.
- Verification Requirements:
For purpose of verification the supervisor may require from the employee concerned the presentation of any documents establishing the facts relating to his absence for the leaves listed above.
Also, Standard Form No. 19 (A) must be completed and submitted to the Civil Service Bureau in each case in order that appropriate recording of time and attendance is made.
