Norton Rose in Bahrain labour focus

Norton Rose is advising the Kingdom of Bahrain on new employment laws.

Following a report by consultants McKinsey & Co, the Crown Prince of Bahrain launched a reform of the labour market. It found that the workforce is dominated by cheap workers from abroad and that Bahrain’s unemployment level is set to rise dramatically in the next decade.

Led by London-based partner Peter Talibart, lawyers from Norton Rose’s UK, France, Germany, Netherlands and Bahrain offices pulled together the best elements of Western employment law to produce improved laws for Bahrain.

Proposals include minimum standards for workers. Bahrain does not yet have a minimum wage, enabling employers to hire expatriate workers at a very low cost.

Talibart said: “This has been a very exciting and unique instruction.”