(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - In a Friday letter to Bahrain's Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Juan Somavia reiterated his concern over continuing reports of anti-trade union actions in the country, including discrimination against leaders and members of the country's federation of workers' unions.
He urged Bahraini authorities to ensure that workers and their unions do not face any further forms of “unfair, unjust and degrading treatment for having expressed their legitimate rights in accordance with the principles of freedom of association.”
Somavia regretted that recent peaceful demonstrations in Bahrain have been met with excessive use of force by the authorities, and that a state of emergency has been declared.
He said the ILO has been informed about the dismissal of several activists of the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions as well as the International Trade Union Confederation, and about other repressive measures that effectively undermine the Unions' capacity to function.
Mass dismissals have also been reported at the Alba Aluminum Company, the Khalifa Sea Port and Gulf Air, according to the ILO.
The vice-president of Bahrain's Teachers' Association are amongst the six members of the organization arrested on 29 and 30 March, and reports indicate that Rulla el-Saffar, president of the Bahrain Nursing Society, has been detained while his whereabouts remain unknown.
“All this information is extremely alarming, in particular as the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions had called on workers to return to work and had been given assurances by State officials that they will not face any punitive measures for their participation in strikes,” Somavia said.
/106