Respect workers' rights!

The General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU) claimed some workers waiting to be reinstated were "afraid" of new conditions put forward in their contracts.

"Sacked workers are the party who can put conditions for reinstatement and not the employers, who should respect workers' rights," said a GFBTU spokesman.

"Some companies are putting new conditions in contracts such as prohibiting them from taking leave or being subjected to a final warning.

"The federation will continue with its civilised and peaceful movement and wants employers to ensure reimbursement of salaries and allowances of workers."

The official was speaking during the weekly protest of sacked workers held outside the Labour Ministry in Isa Town.

Dismissed employees gathered to demand immediate reinstatement without any pre-conditions.

According to latest figures compiled by the GFBTU, of the 2,241 sacked workers in the private and public sector, 635 were reinstated and 1,606 were still waiting for action to be taken.

However, Labour Ministry figures released earlier this month state that out of 2,462 dismissed people, 937 returned to work, 608 were given the green light for reinstatement and 44 refused to be reinstated.

Another 202 did not lodge any complaints and could not be contacted and 194 other cases were unrelated to the unrest.

The ministry added that of the remaining workers, only 179 were not reinstated for various reasons.

The Bahraini workers were sacked for taking part in illegal protests during the unrest, participating in strikes called by GFBTU on February 20 and March 12 last year, absenteeism or criminal charges.