Country profile BHR
National Legal Framework
National Legal Framework
| Provision | Legislation date | Convention | Legislation info | sources | Value | sort_order | Provision description | Legislation description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Is the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs, prohibited? | 2012-01-16 | C182 | Law No. 37 of 2012 Promulgating the Child Law - Article 59 | [{"link_name":"Law No. 37 of 2012 Promulgating the Child Law","source_link":"https://www.bahrain.bh/wps/wcm/connect/621f7cc8-5b61-430b-8b90-b420d517a119/LAW+NO.+%2837%29+OF+2012+WITH+RESPECT+TO+THE+PROMULGATION+OF+THE+CHILD+LAW.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CVID=o8LcyR5"}] | Yes | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | According to Article (59) of the Child Law "It is prohibited to exploit children in various forms of organized and unorganized crime, including instilling ideas of fanaticism and hatred in them, and inciting them to commit acts of violence and intimidation." |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 2012-01-16 | C182 | Law No. 37 of 2012 Promulgating the Child Law - Article 44 ; Penal Code - Articles 324 and 325 | [{"link_name":"-Law No. 37 of 2012 Promulgating the Child Law","source_link":"https://www.bahrain.bh/wps/wcm/connect/621f7cc8-5b61-430b-8b90-b420d517a119/LAW+NO.+%2837%29+OF+2012+WITH+RESPECT+TO+THE+PROMULGATION+OF+THE+CHILD+LAW.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CVID=o8LcyR5"},{"link_name":"-Penal Code","source_link":"https://www.unodc.org/cld/uploads/res/document/bhr/1976/penal-code_html/Bahrain_Penal_Code_Decree_No_15_of_1976_EN_translation_-_non_official.pdf"}] | Yes | 10 | C182 prohibits the use of a child under the age of 18 for prostitution, regardless of the child's consent. The use, procuring or offering of any person under the age of 18 for commercial sexual exploitation constitutes a worst form of child labour, even if prostitution is a legalised. In regard to the prohibition of child pornography, States need to make sure that national legislation addresses the involvement of a child in the production of pornographic materials, including non-recorded performances. | According to the Child Law Article (44) "[...]Sexual mistreatment means exposing a child to any sexual activity, including exposing or attempting to engage in private acts, caressing, or penetration (vulva or anal), or exposing a child to Watching pornographic films or images or using them to produce or distribute them in any form. Penal Code Article (324) stipulates that "Every person who entices a male or a female to commit acts of immorality or prostitution or assists in such acts in any manner whatsoever shall he liable for a prison sentence. If the victim is less than 18 years of age, the punishment shall be a prison sentence for a term not exceeding 5 years." According to Article (325) "Every person who forces a male or a female to commit acts of immorality or prostitution by way of coercion, threat or deceit shall be liable for imprisonment for a period of no less than 2 years and no more than 7 years. If the victim is less than 18 years of age, the punishment shall be a prison sentence for a period not exceeding 3 years and no more than 10 years." |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | N/A | C182 | N/A | [{"link_name":"N/A","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:13100:0::NO::P13100_COMMENT_ID%2CP13100_COUNTRY_ID:2237089%2C103396"}] | N/A | 9 | C182 defines forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict as a worst form of child labour. Nevertheless, C182 only prohibits the forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18, and does not cover the voluntary recruitment of children under 18. | There is no compulsory military service in Bahrain. |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 2008-01-01 | C182 | Law No. 1 of 2008 with Respect to Trafficking in Persons - Article 1. , 2 and 4 | [{"link_name":"Law No. 1 of 2008 with Respect to Trafficking in Persons","source_link":"https://sherloc.unodc.org/cld/en//legislation/bhr/law_no._1_of_2008_with_respect_to_trafficking_in_persons/article_1-10/law_no._1_of_2008_with_respect_to_trafficking_in_persons.html?lng=en&tmpl=sherloc"}] | Yes | 8 | C182 defines all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labour as worst forms of child labour. | According to Article 1.a. of Law No. 1 of 2008 with Respect to Trafficking in Persons "[...] For the purpose of implementing the provisions of this Law, trafficking in persons shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receiving persons, by means of threat or the use of force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deceit, abuse of power or of position or any other direct or indirect unlawful means. Exploitation shall include the exploitation of such person or the prostitution of others or any other forms of exploitation, sexual assault, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs." Article 1.c. " The perpetrator shall be presumed to have knowledge of the real age of the victim who is not eighteen years of age." Article 2 criminalizes the act of trafficking in persons and Article 4 specifies that if the victim is below 15 years, this will constitute aggravating circumstances. According to C182, however, the aggravating circumstance should be constituted for any victim under the age of 18. |
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | 2013-06-13 | C138 & C182 | Ministerial Order No. 23 of 2013 Regarding the determination of the terms, conditions & other circumstances to regulate the employment of juveniles - Article 1 | [{"link_name":"Ministerial Order No. 23 of 2013","source_link":"https://besafebh.com/images/pdf/safety_regulations/Ministerial%20order%2023%20of%202013%20regarding%20the%20determination%20of%20the%20terms,%20conditions%20&%20other%20circumstances%20to%20regulate%20the%20employment%20of%20juveniles.pdf"}] | Yes | 7 | C138 and C182 require the national determination of a list of hazardous work prohibited for children under 18 years of age. The competent authorities should consult with workers' and employers' organizations to determine what types of employment or work are considered to be hazardous. Such a list shall be periodically examined and revised as necessary. | Article 1 of the Ministerial Order No. 23/2013 lists all the occupations in which minors under the age of 18 are prohibited from working. |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 2013-06-13 | C138 & C182 | Ministerial Order No. 23 of 2013 Regarding the determination of the terms, conditions & other circumstances to regulate the employment of juveniles - Articles 1 and 2 | [{"link_name":"Ministerial Order No. 23 of 2013","source_link":"https://besafebh.com/images/pdf/safety_regulations/Ministerial%20order%2023%20of%202013%20regarding%20the%20determination%20of%20the%20terms,%20conditions%20&%20other%20circumstances%20to%20regulate%20the%20employment%20of%20juveniles.pdf"}] | 18 | 6 | C138 and C182 set 18 as the minimum age for hazardous work, which is defined as work that, due to its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to jeopardize children’s health, safety or morals. C138 and C182 allow countries to permit hazardous work exceptionally as from 16, provided that the health, safety and morals of the young persons concerned are fully protected and that they have received adequate specific instruction or training. | Article 1 of the Ministerial Order identifies the hazardous occupations in which the employment of children under 18 years of age is strictly prohibited. Article 2 of the same Order further extends this prohibition to the employment of children under 16 years in jobs that subject them to physical, psychological, or sexual exploitation; involve their participation in illegal activities; or expose them to physical, chemical, biological, mechanical, or other types of risks. |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | 2012-12-13 | C138 | Labour Law - Article 15. | [{"link_name":"Labour Law","source_link":"https://lmra.gov.bh/files/cms/shared/file/labour%20law.pdf"}] | No | 5 | C138 does not apply to work done in school for general, vocational or technical education or in training institutions or work done by children at least 14 years of age in undertakings, where such work is carried out in accordance with conditions prescribed by the competent authority. Such work must be an integral part of: (i) a course of education or training for which a school or training institution is primarily responsible; (ii) a programme of training mainly or entirely in an undertaking, which programme has been approved by the competent authority; or (iii) a programme of guidance or orientation designed to facilitate the choice of an occupation or of a line of training. | Article 15. of the Labour Law says "An apprentice shall be deemed to be every person who enters into a contract with an employer for the purpose of learning an occupation, trade or handicraft for a fixed period of time during which the apprentice shall work under the supervision of the employer concerned for wage or reward." However it does not specify a Minimum Age for admission to apprenticeship. |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 2019-04-11; 2012-07-26 | C138 | Law No. (27) of 2005 regarding the Education Services - Article 1 ; Labour Law - Article 24 | [{"link_name":"-Labour Law","source_link":"https://lmra.gov.bh/files/cms/shared/file/labour%20law.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Law No. (27) of 2005 regarding the Education Services","source_link":"https://www.lloc.gov.bh/FullEn/K2705.docx"}] | Yes | 4 | C138 requires that the minimum age for admission to work shall not be less than the age of completion of compulsory schooling and, in any case, shall not be less than 15 years. | The Minimum age for admission to work according to Article 24 of the Labour Law is 15 years, and according to the Education Act Article 1 compulsory education is until the age 15 years. Therefore the age of admission to work and that of completing compulsory education align. |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | 2012-12-13 | C138 | Labour Law - Article 25 | [{"link_name":"Labour Law","source_link":"https://lmra.gov.bh/files/cms/shared/file/labour%20law.pdf"}] | N/A | 3 | If the country chooses to allow light work, States must determine what activities are considered light work, and the hours and the circumstances under which they may be carried out. | The current entry for the provision on Minimum Age for Light Work indicates that light work is not permitted for children under 15 years of age, as per Bahrain's Labour Law. The relevant legal text refers only to "juveniles," defined as individuals aged 15 and above. In addition, Article 25 of the Labour Law states that juveniles shall not be employed to actively work for a period exceeding 6hours a day. However, there is no legal framework permitting light work for children under the general minimum working age or defining the types and conditions of light work activities allowed. |
| Minimum age for light work | 2012-12-13 | C138 | Labour Law - Articles 25 and 26 | [{"link_name":"Labour Law","source_link":"https://lmra.gov.bh/files/cms/shared/file/labour%20law.pdf"}] | N/A | 2 | C138 defines light work as work that does not interfere with children’s schooling, or their ability to benefit from it, and that is not hazardous. C138 allows countries to permit light work for children younger than the general minimum age. For countries that set the minimum age at 15, this means children aged 13-14, and for those that set it at 14, children aged 12-13 may engage in light work. | The Labour Law Article 25 and Article 26 give the conditions under which Juveniles (defined as person of 15 years of age not exceeding 18 years of age by art 23) should be employed. However a specific age for Light Work has not been set. |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 2012-12-13 | C138 | Labour Law - Article 24 | [{"link_name":"Labour Law","source_link":"https://lmra.gov.bh/files/cms/shared/file/labour%20law.pdf"}] | 15 | 1 | C138 establishes 15 as the minimum age for work in general. Developing countries have the option of setting a minimum age of 14 as a transitional measure as they strengthen their education systems and economies. | Article 24 of the Labour Law states "It is prohibited to employ anyone who is less than 15 years of age" |
International Legal Framework
International Legal Framework
| Ratification status | Convention | Convention description | Date of ratification | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in-force | C182 | Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) | 23-MAR-2001 | Source |
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 07-MAR-2012 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In November 2023, the Council of Ministers approved the new National Childhood Strategy which covers the period from 2023 to 2027. This strategy is designed to establish a comprehensive legislative framework and foster an environment conducive to policies, laws, programs, and services that support the survival and development of children. Its primary goal is to promote balanced growth, ensuring that the best interests of children are prioritized. The strategy is structured around four fundamental pillars that represent the basic rights of children. Additionally, it incorporates eight strategic axes that guide the implementation process, focusing on the development, protection, and overall well-being of children. | [{"link_name":"National Childhood Strategy","source_link":"https://www.social.gov.bh/home/news_details/1216?lang=en"}] | 2023-2027 | National Childhood Strategy | Ministry of Social Development |