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Manama: Bahrain’s prime minister on Wednesday ordered the reinstatement of two trade unionists who were sacked by their telecom company last July for their role in a rally over wages.
“Upon an order from Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Bahrain Telecommunication Company (Batelco) is to re-instate the two dismissed employees Majid Sehrab and Faisal Ghazwan with effect from next week,” the company said in a statement.
Sehrab, acting chairman of Batelco Trade Union and Ghazwan, the head of the trade union’s research and development committee, were sacked one day after leading a rally asking for better wages amid claims by Batelco that the gathering was illegal under Bahrain’s trade union laws which prohibit picketing in sensitive areas.
However, the two men sued the company and last week the labour court ruled in their favour and ordered Batelco to reinstate them and to pay each of them $24,650 [about Dh90,527]. Batelco however said that it would appeal against the ruling.
Shaikh Khalifa’s decision to reinstate them was welcomed as a move to end a bitter and highly publicised dispute that has at times threatened to mar relations between the company, one of the largest in Bahrain, and some of its staff.
The company, which in January announced a record $269.2 million (about Dh987.9 million) net profit for 2007, was accused by human rights activists of “throwing the law against the wall” by sacking staff for union activities.
However, its chairman yesterday defended the company stance. “We have repeatedly stated that we respect and appreciate all our staff as they are a valuable asset and a key for our future success,” Batelco Chairman, Shaikh Hamad Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, said in the statement.
“We also have to implement the law in cases where we believe actions by any employee may be against the interests of the company, employees, customers and shareholders. The action taken against the two employees was consistent with the implementation of law and must be seen in its correct context,” he said.
“We hope that Majid and Faisal will now join their colleagues in supporting the company to achieve its strategic goals,” he said.
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