Bahrain parliament backs exclusive car delivery jobs for citizens, motorcycle licence freeze

Bahrain’s parliament has unanimously approved a proposal that would restrict car-based delivery services to Bahraini citizens, while leaving motorcycle deliveries accessible to both citizens and foreign workers.

Job Creation for Citizens

Speaker Ahmed Al Musallam proposed the division of labour during a parliamentary session, as lawmakers simultaneously urged a temporary freeze on issuing new motorcycle delivery permits until proper regulations are introduced. The revised proposal, which combines efforts to create employment opportunities for Bahrainis with demands for tighter controls on the rapidly expanding delivery industry, has been referred to the Cabinet for review.

“Why not leave motorcycles to foreigners or interested Bahrainis and make car deliveries exclusively for Bahrainis?” Al Musallam asked fellow lawmakers. He argued that reserving car deliveries for citizens could open up more employment opportunities for young Bahrainis, while allowing motorcycle deliveries to continue under stricter safety requirements.

“Medical examinations are necessary,” Al Musallam said, calling for compulsory health checks before riders are allowed to work. He also demanded tougher enforcement and improved road safety education, and supported a temporary halt to new motorcycle delivery licences until the government establishes clear rules.

Lawmaker Mohammed Janahi, who submitted the original proposal, endorsed the initiative, saying delivery work could provide an attractive source of income for Bahrainis. He stated that drivers could earn between 500 and 800 Bahraini dinars monthly, including commissions. Janahi suggested that the labour fund Tamkeen could help Bahrainis enter the sector, creating employment opportunities while ensuring delivery companies had access to a local workforce.

Road Safety Warnings

Employment was not the sole issue; lawmakers cautioned that road safety hazards could no longer be overlooked. Data presented during the debate indicated that seven delivery motorcyclists died in road accidents in 2024, up from four the previous year.

Janahi also called for mental and physical health checks as part of the delivery permit renewal process, warning that long hours on motorcycles could worsen underlying conditions, including heart problems. MPs also flagged inadequate training, dangerous overtaking, disregard for traffic signals, and the rising number of delivery motorcycles on Bahrain’s roads.

Regulatory Gaps and Calls for Clarity

Lawmaker Eman Shuwaiter criticised government bodies for passing responsibility for regulating delivery services from one authority to another. “All we asked for was to regulate delivery licences and put proper rules in place,” she said. “Yet every authority says it is not their responsibility.”

She noted that delivery motorcycles have become increasingly visible on the roads since the Covid-19 pandemic, with some riders cutting across traffic and behaving as though they had the right of way. Shuwaiter recounted witnessing a delivery rider cause an accident that injured another motorist, prompting her to call the traffic police herself. She demanded a clear timetable for introducing regulations and asked which authority would ultimately be responsible for enforcing them.

The Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications stated that delivery services do not currently fall within its land transport rules. However, it confirmed that it is working with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Interior Ministry’s General Directorate of Traffic to prepare a draft ministerial decision that would bring the activity under a regulatory framework. The traffic directorate said delivery motorcycles fall within the definition of public transport under Bahrain’s 2014 Traffic Law, placing responsibility for regulating their commercial use with the Transportation and Telecommunications Ministry.

Lawmakers argued that the proposed freeze would provide time to establish enforceable licensing, professional, and safety standards, while protecting road users and allowing the industry to operate under clearer rules.