Systematic forced unemployment continues as al Khalifa weapon of collective punishment

Bahrain’s anti-union repression escalates

Despite growing international pressure, the Bahraini authorities have stepped up the repression of the country’s trade union movement, sacking more than 100 government employees in recent weeks.

In total, more than 2,600, workers have been sacked since the pro-democracy uprising earlier this year. According to the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), ‘Despite numerous promises to the contrary, the government has largely failed to reinstate workers illegally dismissed. According to the General Federation of Bahraini Trade Unions (GFBTU), only 134 workers have been reinstated to date. Many of these workers had to agree to unacceptable, indeed illegal, conditions in order to get their jobs back – including agreeing not to take part in any future political activity, waiving the right to participate in legal cases against the government and agreeing not to re-join their trade union.’

The TUC is supporting an international appeal by Education International and Amnesty International to secure the release of two leaders of the Bahrain Teachers’ Association (BTA). While Jalila al Salman the Vice President of the BTA has been released on bail over the weekend, she is due to face trial before a military tribunal next week where it is ‘highly unlikely’ that she will get a fair trial according to the ITUC and Amnesty. Roula al-Saffar, head of the Bahrain Nursing Society is also standing trial.

Please sign Education International’s urgent action appeal calling on the Bahraini authorities to drop the charges against the BTA leaders and to respect the human rights of all workers in Bahrain. …more