Bahraini firms have fired hundreds of mostly Shia workers who went on strike to support pro-democracy protesters, part of a government crackdown, an opposition group said on Tuesday.
Bahrain’s unions called a general strike on March 13 to support protesters against the government who for weeks occupied a square in the capital until security forces moved in on March 16. The strike was called off on March 22.
Officials at Batelco, Bahrain Airport Services and APM Terminals Bahrain said they had laid off more than 200 workers due to absence during the strike. “It’s illegal in Bahrain and anywhere else in the world to just strike. You have to give two weeks’ notice to your employer,” said one executive.
Bahrain’s Wefaq group said it estimated that more than 1,000 workers had been laid off. Government officials could not be reached for comment on the arrests.
Some political analysts said large-scale dismissals of workers could speed up the disintegration of Bahrain’s society into two enclaves.
More lay-offs are expected at Bahrain Petroleum which has fired the head of its workers’ union. Workers fear that hundreds could be fired at the company after parliament launched an investigation headed by a hardline deputy. “Everybody is afraid,” a worker said.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 6th, 2011.
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