Bahrain to review draft law on unions

A new controversial law to regulate the establishment of labour and trade unions in Bahrain will undergo a revision, taking into consideration views of the workers' representatives as well as employers, Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister, confirmed.

Expressing 'relief', the body representing workers appreciated the move and said it hopes the new law will fulfil the aspirations of local workers.

According to the state news agency, Sheikh Khalifa, who was speaking to a number of officials at his court on Saturday afternoon, "has welcomed all suggestions, observations and views related to some regulations and laws reviewed by the government."

He was referring to the draft laws on labour and trade unions on which he had issued orders to the legal ministerial committee to consider the recommendations presented to him by the representatives of Bahraini workers and integrate the views of employers and businessmen through the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI).

"The government's main priorities were to meet the requirements of the local work force that enters the labour market annually and to support the trade, economic and investment sectors by preparing the ideal conditions and climate," he noted.

The premier's new orders come three days after a statement issued by the General Committee for Bahrain Workers' (GCBW) declaring that the proposed unions law, announced by the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs last week, "does not meet with the basic requirements for the establishment of independent unions."

Urging the government to initiate a dialogue, before the approval of the proposed law, the committee had also called for drafting a fresh law, "which conforms with the Arab and international conventions on trade unions."

The GCBW noted that a "critical element absent from the draft law is the workers right of collective bargaining." It also rejected a provision in the draft law that bans unions from being engaged in political activities.

Another point of contention was that unlike their counterparts in the private sector, workers in the public sector would not be allowed to form their own unions.

In a statement issued yesterday, Abdul Ghaffar Abdul Hussein, president of the GCBW appreciated the prime minister's orders to consider the suggestions of the workers when writing the final draft of the law.

He said the move has brought "relief amongst the workers who aspire to get a law that genuinely fulfils their quest for an independent labour movement, consistent with the international agreements related to the formation of labour and trade unions."

Meanwhile, a panel of representatives of workers at the Bahrain Petrol Company (Bapco) met yesterday to prepare for the transformation of their labour committee into 'a full-fledged union'.

The panel included the newly-elected workers' representatives, representatives from the management and members of the defunct Bapco Joint Labour Committee (JLC).

The preparatory panel will also meet officials of the ministry of labour and social affairs and discuss matters concerning the draft unions law.