Bahrain Adopts "Remote Investigation" with Employees Under Specific Procedural Controls

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The Civil Service Bureau has adopted the "remote investigation" mechanism as part of the procedures regulating the work of investigation committees with employees who are not in senior positions and those in similar situations. This step aims to develop the administrative system and enhance digital transformation, in addition to supporting the principles of justice, transparency, and governance in government entities.

The Civil Service Bureau has adopted the "remote investigation" mechanism as part of the procedures regulating the work of investigation committees with employees who are not in senior positions and those in similar situations, allowing for the initiation of investigation procedures and hearing the statements of employees, witnesses, and experts using audio and visual technical means.. pic.twitter.com/sSw7DegIE8

This came under decision No. (4) of the year 2026, issuing civil service instructions regarding the procedures of the investigation committee with employees who are not in senior positions and those in similar situations, which established a unified procedural framework regulating the work of investigation committees and defining the controls necessary to protect the rights of both government entities and employees alike.

The instructions regulate the handling of job violations according to clear and fair procedures, whether in cases of breach of job duties or negligence in performing job tasks and responsibilities, while defining the roles and procedures followed by investigation committees from the beginning of examining the violation until the issuance of recommendations.

The new system allows for the direct initiation of investigation procedures and the hearing of statements from employees, witnesses, and experts using audio and visual technical means, providing greater flexibility in managing investigation sessions while adhering to established procedural controls.

The procedural guide accompanying the decision outlines a set of controls for implementing the "remote investigation" mechanism, including setting the investigation date and the electronic means used, notifying the concerned parties in a timely manner, and informing them in advance if the session will be recorded.

The guide also ensures that those whose statements were heard can access the investigation record and sign it according to the approved procedures, preserving the rights of the parties involved and enhancing the integrity of the procedures followed.

In cases where the investigation committee recommends imposing a penalty on the employee that exceeds one month’s salary or dismissal from service, the employee shall be referred to a disciplinary council formed by a decision from the head of the civil service apparatus, as stipulated in the decision.

This mechanism contributes to enhancing institutional oversight over disciplinary procedures, ensuring that more severe penalties undergo an independent disciplinary process before a final decision is made.

In addition, the instructions obliged government entities to enter the approved disciplinary penalties into the Human Resources Management Information System (Horison) immediately upon issuance, ensuring their documentation and the updating of related data.

Government entities are also required to provide the Civil Service Bureau with relevant periodic reports and statistics, supporting the efforts for continuous monitoring, evaluation, and development of the investigation committees system.