Unionists have compiled a list of 373 workers sacked from their jobs in Bahrain's public and private sectors.

The workers visited the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU) in Adliya to register for the unemployment insurance scheme.

'We have so far registered 373 workers from different sectors sacked recently for participating in strikes,' a spokesman told our sister newspaper Gulf Daily News (GDN).

Among those who registered yesterday were workers from Batelco, APM Terminals, Bapco, Alba and other companies.

The workers were sacked for taking part in a nationwide strike called by the GFBTU resulting in absenteeism from work.

The federation first announced a nationwide strike on February 20, but called it off after the military first withdrew from the GCC Roundabout.

It then announced an indefinite strike on March 13 in solidarity with protesters who were evicted from near the Bahrain Financial Harbour, which was called off on March 22.

Businesses and industries had warned of job cuts over large-scale absenteeism, prompting a government warning of a major crackdown unless workers get back to work.

'Our concern is that dismissal of Bahraini workers would increase in the coming days as part of the government clampdown to take action against such behaviour,' said the spokesman.

Federation women and children affairs assistant secretary-general Suad Mubarak said some expatriate female employees laid off from the private sector due to the economic situation also registered their names yesterday.

'We have a few women from the hospitality sector, who were asked by their employers to return to their home country,' she said.

'They were not sacked, but the present situation has affected the sector resulting in layoffs.'

The GFBTU will continue to register names and details of workers for the unemployment insurance scheme until next week.

However, a federation official said only workers whose contracts were terminated were eligible for the scheme, while those immediately sacked from their jobs failed to avail of the scheme.

'We are reviewing each case and referring it to Labour Ministry officials,' he said. 'In some cases, companies could be asked to reconsider their decision to sack workers or they might face legal action.'

The unemployment insurance programme was launched in 2007 jointly by the Labour Ministry and the General Organisation for Social Insurance (Gosi).

Employers, employees and the government contribute one per cent of the employees' salary towards the scheme.

New jobseekers, who hold a university diploma or degree, get a monthly assistance of BD150, while undergraduates get BD120.

Beneficiaries are obliged to join the ministry's training programmes to qualify them for future jobs.

Under the second category, people who lose jobs after paying contributions towards the scheme for a minimum 12 months will be eligible to receive 60 per cent of their salary every month, with a maximum of BD500 and a minimum of BD150.

Meanwhile, sources said 408 people, including 19 women, had so far been arrested for alleged anti-government activities.

Authorities have accused Iran and Lebanon-based terror organisation Hizbollah of playing a role in recent unrest.-TradeArabia News Service