Unions demand better conditions for workers for
Published: 2 May 2007
A TOP Bahraini trade unionist has complained that unions are not being taken seriously by employers – despite some managing to secure better deals for their members.
Alba Employees Union chairman Ali Albinali says spiraling costs of living demand higher wages, but added many companies are not prepared to cough up.
“We feel that even now, unions are not taken seriously,” he told the GDN on the occasion of Labour Day, which was marked around the globe yesterday.
“Our unity has not been shown because many fear to show their resistance to current practices.
Unions demand better conditions for workers for
Published: 2 May 2007
A TOP Bahraini trade unionist has complained that unions are not being taken seriously by employers – despite some managing to secure better deals for their members.
Alba Employees Union chairman Ali Albinali says spiraling costs of living demand higher wages, but added many companies are not prepared to cough up.
“We feel that even now, unions are not taken seriously,” he told the GDN on the occasion of Labour Day, which was marked around the globe yesterday.
“Our unity has not been shown because many fear to show their resistance to current practices.
“Take a look around Bahrain now – prices are going higher and higher, rents are increasing and yet salaries are not.
“Companies in Bahrain are taking in huge profits, yet none of that money is going back to the workers.”
The Alba Employees Union flexed its muscles to win a bonus increase in March, as well as a backdated bonus for last year that was expected to cost the company BD2.25 million in total.
Around 3,000 workers will benefit under the deal, which was struck after workers picketed outside the company’s board offices in Seef.
It will see Alba workers secure a minimum BD1,000 bonus this year and receive BD750 for last year.
However, Mr Albinali accused parliament of not doing enough to fight for the rights of workers.
“Parliament has not done anything for us workers in the five years that they (MPs) have been in power,” he said.
Meanwhile, unofficial government unions are also mobilising public sector employees and demanding better working conditions – including higher salaries.
A petition has reportedly been signed by thousands of government workers demanding a pay increase.
“The government has offered a pay rise of 15 per cent, but we are looking for a figure closer to 40pc,” said a spokesman for the Electricity and Water Ministry Trade Union.
Meanwhile, rights workers have criticised a lack of protection afforded to foreign workers in Bahrain.
Migrant Workers Protection Society (MWPS) member and Helping Hands founder Salma Bala described them as being “chained”.
“They are chained,” she said. “It is indeed a sorry state of affairs.
“During the oil boom the Middle East needed a large workforce to build up its infrastructure and it got that from expatriate labour.
“That trend has continued to this day. They exploited free visa workers. The Middle East was built by migrant labour and people must not forget that.”
The now-dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) called for solidarity between Bahraini and migrant workers on the occasion of Labour Day.
“A divided labour force is a weak labour force, with little power to bargain for its rights,” said vice-president Nabeel Rajab.
“In order for Bahraini workers to secure satisfying working conditions for themselves, they must be fighting for satisfying working conditions for migrant workers too.
“And if migrant workers are to ensure humane conditions for themselves they must join with local workers in the struggle to ensure humane conditions for all workers.
“Instead of seeing each other as competitors, local and migrant workers should work in solidarity towards the improvement of conditions for all workers – because labour rights are migrant rights, and migrant rights are labour rights.”
The BCHR recommended the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions to reach out to migrant workers in a sign of solidarity, as well as called on foreign embassies with migrant worker communities in Bahrain to educate their citizens about their human rights and rights under Bahraini law.
© Gulf Daily News