It's a govt mandate... 1% of your basic for all persons employed in Bahrain, ALL persons...GF apparently fought it til the last possible moment with no success...and the poor folks in payroll at the palace until the wee hours sorting it out....a measure was announced by the powers that be in govt to institute a prolicy/procedure to return it to the employee when they terminate their employment in BAH provided they dont avail themselves of this facility....