Law No. (27) of 2010 establishes the legal framework for sports leave in the Kingdom of Bahrain, ensuring that athletes and technical staff can represent the nation without compromising their professional or academic standing. This legislation mandates that participation in regional or international tournaments is recognized as a legitimate reason for temporary leave from work or study.
Key Aspects of the Law:
- The law applies to players, coaches, and administrative, technical, medical, and refereeing teams.
- Eligible Entities: It covers individuals working in civil and military government bodies, public and private companies, as well as students in schools and universities.
- Leave Entitlement: Eligible individuals are entitled to special leave for the duration of preparation and participation in Gulf, Arab, regional, continental, or international championships where they represent the Kingdom.
- For Government & Private Employees:
- For government employees, the government continues to pay their full salaries and allowances.
- For private sector employees, the "beneficiary entity" (the sports organization requesting the individual) is responsible for paying their wages during the leave period.
- All employees retain their full functional and employment rights during the leave.
- For students, the leave period is not counted toward their actual study duration or the maximum time allowed for graduation.