Golden Visa holder loses BD40,000 claim against hospital

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

The Court of Cassation upheld the lower courts’ decision, citing the illegality of his employment due to the lack of a valid work permit.

The doctor had worked at the hospital for two years before his contract was terminated.

Outstanding Payments

He subsequently filed a claim for BD40,000 in outstanding payments.

His claim was rejected in the lower courts and subsequently by the Court of Cassation.

The hospital’s lawyer, Abdulrahman Ghunaim, argued that the doctor’s employment was invalid because he lacked a valid work permit, despite holding a Golden Visa.

“The Bahraini law mandates foreign workers to possess a work permit issued by the competent authorities. Even a Golden Visa does not grant automatic permission to work for another employer,” lawyer Ghunaim argued.

Employment Contract

While the doctor possessed a licence to practise medicine from the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA), this licence had been revoked, rendering his employment contract void.

The Court of Cassation agreed with the hospital’s argument, stating that a foreign national working in Bahrain without a valid work permit or in violation of its conditions deems the employment contract null and void.