Manama:The Civil Service Bureau has introduced a remote investigation mechanism for handling cases involving employees who do not occupy senior positions or equivalent roles. This initiative utilizes audio-visual technology to conduct investigations and gather testimonies from employees, witnesses, and experts, aiming to enhance the administrative system, support digital transformation, and uphold justice, transparency, and governance within government entities.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the newly established Civil Service Instruction (4) of 2026 outlines a unified procedural framework for investigation committees. It emphasizes safeguarding the rights of both government entities and employees by ensuring employment violations are addressed through transparent and equitable procedures, covering breaches of duties or inadequacies in job performance.
The procedural guide accompanying the instruction details the requirements for conducting remote investigations. It mandates setting a date and electronic platform for the investigation, notifying relevant parties in advance, and informing them if the session will be recorded. It also allows individuals whose statements are recorded to review and sign the investigation report following approved procedures.
The instruction provides for referring an employee to a disciplinary board, constituted by the CSB President's decision, in cases where a salary deduction exceeding one month or dismissal is recommended. This measure enhances institutional oversight and ensures the correct application of disciplinary actions.
Government entities must enter approved disciplinary penalties into the Human Resources Information Management System (Horison) promptly and submit periodic reports and statistics to the CSB. This supports the ongoing monitoring and development of the investigation committee system.
To maintain integrity and impartiality, the instruction requires an investigation committee to include a chairperson and at least two experienced and competent members. The chairperson must be at least at the head of section level, and any member with a direct supervisory relationship or familial ties to the employee under investigation is barred from participating.
The instruction also stresses the importance of progressively applying disciplinary penalties to ensure effective deterrence while maintaining governmental efficiency. It allows for the automatic removal of disciplinary penalties after certain periods, ranging from six months for a warning to one or two years for salary deductions.
These regulations are part of the CSB's broader efforts to develop administrative systems, enhance government efficiency, support digital transformation, and reinforce principles of justice and transparency in the government workplace.