To clarify the approved policy authorizing housing allowance for government overseas contract employees; the responsibilities of the Civil Service Bureau and Ministries; eligibility requirements and procedures for the payment of this allowance.

H.H the Prime Minister Resolution No. (12) for 1999 regarding the granting of housing allowance for government overseas contract employees.

This allowance is an amount paid for all non Bahrainis working as overseas contract employees in the Civil Service in lieu of the government providing them furnished accommodation at rates provided in the attached table and in accordance with the employee’s grade, family status, and family size.

• New employees.
• Old employees at the time of the renewal of their contracts.

• Employees who are provided with accommodation owned by the government.

• Single female teachers who are working in the Ministry of Education, and single nurses in the Ministry of Health, that due to the circumstances of their work are provided with accommodation by the Government.

• Employees under Lump-sum contracts.

1. Civil Service Bureau:

   • Issue instructions and rules for implementation of the provisions of the resolution for the granting of housing allowance for government overseas contract employees.

   • Develop policies and procedures on housing allowance.

   • Provide staff assistant for Ministries in the implementation of this regulation.

   • Review and approve the appropriate rate of allowance for employee upon request of the Ministry.

   • inspect and assess furniture provided by ministries to their employees who are living in rented private houses if the ministries desire to sell the furniture.

   • Prepare housing allowance analysis to ensure payments are in accordance with the provisions of the Regulation.

   • Evaluate and revise this allowance, and submit recommendations to the Council of Ministers as needed

2. Ministries:

   • Apply the appropriate rate of allowance to authorized employees according to the attached table.

   • Control the payment of allowance to their employees.

   • Ensure that the rent contract for privately owned housing accommodation eligible employees have been terminated before any payment of the allowance is made. The owner will be contacted to terminate the contract upon the renewal of the contract of employment of the employee.

   • Explain the approved housing allowance policy; and the pertinent rules and conditions.

1. Date of Payment:
   The allowance will be paid from the effective date of the employment contract.
2. Payment rules:
   • Married rate of the allowance will be paid to employees in accordance to the provisions of his/her employment contract, otherwise the single rate will be paid.

3. General rules:
   

Ministries may provide temporary housing accommodation for their new employees for a period not to exceed five (5) days till they get an appropriate house in Bahrain in the following accommodation:

• In government owned housing facilities in coordination with the Civil Service Bureau.

• In hotels amid the like, if government accommodation is not available, without need for coordination with the Civil Service Bureau.

The following rules apply pertaining to ministry-owned furniture provided for their employees use in accommodations rented from the private sector:

• Coordination with the CSB for the purpose of the inspection and assessment of the furniture. Then the respective government organization may sell it to the eligible employees if they desire to buy it.

• Damaged amid unrepairable furniture will be excluded in coordination with the Civil Service Bureau.

• Or, maintain it by the ministry for use whenever needed.

1. New employees:
   • The Civil Service Bureau should determine the appropriate housing allowance in the employment contract based on the approved rules and Condition of said allowance.

   • Ministries should send form (52) of employee appointment, showing the appropriate housing allowance rate for the employee.

   • The Civil Service Bureau will check the correctness of the information in the form (52) before approval including the housing allowance rate.

2. Old Employee:
   1. Currently provided with housing accommodation by the government:
      • Ministries will submit form (52) for the payment of housing allowance together with relevant supporting documents.

      • Civil Service Bureau will check the attached documents prior to the approval of the request.

   2. Employees currently receiving housing allowance:
      • Ministries must submit form (52) to renew the employment contract of the employee, showing the proposed amount of the housing allowance.

      • Civil Service Bureau will check the correctness of data mentioned in the form before approval of the housing allowance.