Government rejects bid to ban strike in Alba

Manama : The Government has rejected a parliamentary proposal to ban labour strikes in one of the key factories in Bahrain.

Replying to a proposal presented by the House of Representatives to include Aluminum Bahrain (Alba) among the establishments that prohibits strikes, the government said that strikes are a legal and peaceful method to defend the social and economic rights of workers, and the ‘Labour Unions Law’ has regulated this right”.

It underlined in a statement that “the Freedoms of Associations Committee of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has specified the definition of establishments that should ban strikes in them, in the cases of endangering part or all the population and their personal safety and interests”.

“As per this concept, the ILO’s Freedom of Associations Committee has listed the metals sector as a non-prohibited strike sector. As Bahrain’s Alba is one of the arms of Bahrain’s metal sectors, it is not a prohibited zone for strikes. The Bahraini law is in line with international labour standards and the proposal is rejected because it contradicts with it,” the government’s reply said.

“The electricity plant in the factory is the only area where strikes should be banned, in accordance with the labour unions laws and regulations, which bans strikes in electricity and water facilities. It’s important for the government to confirm that it doesn’t agree to including Alba to the list of establishments where strikes are prohibited,” the government added.

Trade Union Rights and Freedoms Department in Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society welcomed the government’s decision, which said that “it’s a model in the region of respecting labourers’ rights and freedoms and commitment to the international agreements and conventions”.