Spouses of US military staff residing in Bahrain can now work

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com     

Spouses and other dependents of the US military residing in Bahrain can now work within the local economy without having to give up their status as forces agreement visas, the Navy announced.

A deal reached with Bahrain on Sunday also means that US military family members who wish to work for a local firm would no longer have to leave the country to find work and then secure a residency visa and a work permit before returning, according to a statement from the US 5th Fleet.

The new rule addresses a fundamental stumbling block for many foreign military spouses and dependents, who are sometimes compelled to choose between their careers or keeping the benefits and protections provided by their DOD-dependent status.

Local companies that wish to hire a dependent of a US service member or DOD civilian can obtain a work permit from a Bahraini agency that will assess all requests, according to 5th Fleet spokesperson Cmdr.

Timothy Hawkins. According to the fleet's website, dependents must have their wages paid directly into a local bank account.

They would not pay income taxes to Bahrain but would be subject to US tax regulations.

It's not certain how many Americans will benefit from the move or what employment could be available in the kingdom.

US military spouses and family members in Bahrain may already work remotely while maintaining their DOD-issued visas.

Naval Support Activity Bahrain, home to the US Naval Forces Central Command and the 5th Fleet, plays a significant role in Middle Eastern national security.

According to Hawkins, over 1,200 US military dependents live in Bahrain, with roughly half of them being of working age.