Alleged arbitrary termination stirs protest in Zayed Town

At least  50 Bahraini employees of Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) walked from the factory in Askar to Labour and Social Development Ministry in Zayed Town to protest against an alleged “arbitrary termination.”

One of the protesters told DT News yesterday that 64 employees out of 100 participated in the protest to express their rejection to the factory’s decision to “arbitrarily” terminate their contracts.

The employee (identity withheld on request) explained, “We’re part of a programme that is implemented in cooperation between Alba and the Labour Fund (Tamkeen). The programme stipulates that we work as vocational trainees on a probation period of two years. The period completes next week and we were notified today that the contract will be terminated, despite the fact that most of us passed the required tests and job requirements.”

He added, “We walked to the Ministry and police prevented us from entering, as they said it was an illegal gathering. But, a Ministry official met us and assured that they would do the necessary to solve the issue. We’re planning another protest near the Ministry today.”

Ministry looking into the matter

In a press statement issued later yesterday, Labour and Social Development Ministry confirmed that it’s “currently looking into the matter of the terminated Bahraini employees of Alba.”

Assistant Undersecretary of Labour Affairs Dr. Mohammed Al Ansari assured that “Ministry officials will convene today with Alba representatives to discuss the legal framework of the termination of the employees, after they filed an official complaint against the establishment, demanding to be settled and to maintain their jobs.”

Dr. Al Ansari added, “The Ministry will investigate the reasons behind terminating the contracts of the employees and will look into the legal aspects of the termination procedures.

The assistant undersecretary reaffirmed the Ministry’s keenness on protecting the rights of employees and employers alike.

Contractual obligations always fulfilled, says Alba

On their part, Alba said in a statement that it had “notified all Vocational Trainees (VT) earlier yesterday that their contracts will expire as per their respective Vocational Trainee Contracts, in 24 months from the date of entering into such with Alba. All Vocational Trainees need to undergo an assessment, as per their respective contracts, and shall be offered employment upon successful completion.”

Explaining further, the statement read, “Alba always fulfils its contractual obligations vis-à-vis its contractual partners, specifically, as in this case with the relevant VTs, Tamkeen or other related parties.”

44 employees to be re-instated in two days

Parliamentary Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee member MP Khalid Al Shaer said in a telephone conversation with DT News yesterday that “44 of the sacked employees will be reinstated within 2 to 3 days.”

“They will be provided with annual contracts that will be automatically renewed. The remaining, who showed poor performances during the probation period, will be given three months to improve and will be reassessed,” Al Shaer assured.

He opined, “Considering the ongoing global economic crisis and the fluctuating aluminium prices, the company is not obliged to maintain trainees. But, we sensed a national obligation in their decision to support Bahraini youth and grant them a second chance. This orientation comes in line with the reformation project launched by HM the King that enables Bahraini youth.”

The MP added that “Alba assured that if economic situations come back to normal, the trainees will be permanently employed at the establishment.”