Unionists have backed the approach by Bahrain ministries of studying cases related to absenteeism before taking any disciplinary action.

The General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU) said yesterday that while companies in the private sector were sacking hundreds of employees, ministries had formed committees to evaluate each case.

'Ministries have formed investigation committees that are studying every case and taking action accordingly,' said a GFBTU spokesman.

'They are not taking hasty decisions of sacking workers in numbers, without proper clarifications.'

The Housing Minister yesterday announced commissions of inquiry to probe 'absenteeism and insubordination of some staff'.

'In light of the unfortunate events, initiated by a group of instigators, services provided by the Ministry and Eskan Bank were disabled,' said Housing Minister and Eskan Bank chairman Basim bin Yacob Al Hamer.

'Commissions of inquiry have been established in both institutions to investigate such abuses with proven involvement that affected citizens.'

Culture Minister Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa also yesterday established commissions of inquiry to investigate violations and involvement of several employees in the recent protests.

The GFBTU said private sector companies should form similar commissions before taking any decision related to their staff.

His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa on March 28 ordered a crackdown on absentee public sector employees and directed ministries and government departments to strictly implement rules set by Civil Service Bureau.

The union office in Adliya registered until last week a total of 430 dismissed workers from different companies and organisations.

They have come forward to claim unemployment allowances, but some could be entitled to seek legal action against their former bosses if they were unfairly dismissed.

GDN reported on Friday that the Labour Ministry was prepared to evaluate each case and could take legal action against firms that have acted outside the law.

Those who have registered so far include workers from Alba, Bapco, APM Terminals, Batelco and several private companies.

The GFBTU had called a nationwide strike on February 20, but called it off the same day after security forces withdrew from the GCC (Pearl) Roundabout.

It then announced an indefinite strike on March 13 in solidarity with anti-government protesters, after police tried to evict demonstrators from outside the Bahrain Financial Harbour.

Protesters had prevented staff from reaching workplaces by blocking the King Faisal Highway in Manama but attacked police who tried to move them on.

The union later said the strike would be called off once it was safe for workers to resume their duties, after illegal checkpoints were set up across the country when police were pulled out.

Authorities launched a security crackdown on March 16 after evicting protesters from the GCC Roundabout, but the union continued its strike until March 22.-TradeArabia News Service