PRIVATE sector employees whose performance is deemed weak by their employers could soon have two months to improve before being sacked.
The Shura Council yesterday approved the article in the new 198-article Private Sector Employment Law.
Under the article, employers will have to train and educate their employees within that period to help them improve and if they continue being below standards, they will have the right to sack them.
Several councillors were against the article last week, which would have originally obliged employers to give employees a six-month notice to improve their performance before terminating their contracts.
The councillors maintained that it was a waste of time and money.
However, other council members believed that the new article allowed fair treatment of employees, which was backed by Labour Minister Dr Majeed Al Alawi.
Dr Al Alawi told councillors last week that competency was "elastic and subjective" and was very difficult for anyone to determine
Councillors also approved an article that would oblige employers of establishments with more than 50 employees to hold regular cultural, social, entertainment and sport activities for their employees throughout the year.
Lists of the activities will have to be drawn up by the Labour Ministry, in co-ordination with the Bahrain Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions.