Alba trainees reinstated following protest

A protest by around 50 Bahraini trainees at Aluminum Bahrain (Alba) came to an end on Sunday after they were reinstated.

The decision was widely welcomed after allegations of arbitrary termination of the trainees spread among the public.

In a press statement issued on Sunday, Alba confirmed that “it will absorb all 53 Vocational Trainees (VT) into the various departments of the establishment as per the agreement with the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) and their signed contracts.”

The statement read, “Alba’s Executive Management, Director Administration and Managers of Human Resources and Training departments met earlier today (Sunday) with the Chairman of Alba Labour Union and other members of the Labour Union Board, and mutually agreed to move forward with the plan of absorbing all the trainees.”

“The meeting was concluded positively and starting today (Sunday), a panel comprising of the Human Resources and Training departments will be meeting the VTs to determine their allocation to various departments within the Company, based on the skills attained during the 2-year training, to engage them on regular employment terms as per the company policy and in line with the applicable labour laws,” Alba announced.

The statement added that “the Chairman of Alba Labour Union, Ali Al Binali, expressed his utmost gratitude to Alba’s Executive Management for their diligent support towards resolving the said matter in the best interests of the Vocational Trainees, Alba and Tamkeen.”

Minister Welcomes Decision

The move was also welcomed by Labour and Social Development Minister Jameel Huamidan, who commented, “The ministry welcomes this move and lauds Alba’s cooperation and positivity in this regard. Alba assured to absorb all trainees, after assessing their performances.”

The minister appreciated the key roles played by Alba Labour Union and Bahrain Free Labour Union Federation in solving the matter in a neutral manner. He said “their intercession assists in stabilising Bahraini labourers and contributes in improving their performances.”

Humaidan asserted on the ministry’s role in strengthening the principles of social dialogue to solve labour disputes, in accordance with the applied national laws.

In his statement, the minister added that “Alba officially informed the ministry that it had completed the processes of reassessing all trainees and permanently absorb them within the establishment, in accordance with their agreement with Tamkeen.”

The trainees began their protest last Wednesday, when Alba informed 53 Bahraini VTs that they will be suspended following the completion of their two-year training contracts.

The trainees then organised protests against the company's decision, claiming that they were "arbitarily terminated" and demanded permanent employment at Alba.

Following two days of protest near the Labour and Social Development Ministry in Zayed Town and at the company in Askar, Alba representatives and ministry officials held a meeting to discuss the situation and the means to solve the matter, which resulted in reaching mutual decisions.

Caption : Alba 

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