Hundreds of people are expected to take part in a demonstration tomorrow demanding improved rights for workers, a report said.

It will highlight the issue of sacked airline staff, low wages and the plight of vulnerable expatriates during the event, being held to mark International Labour Day, according to the report in the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

The General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU) and Bahrain Labour Union Free Federation (BLUFF) also hope to use the occasion to encourage women and youth to join the trade union movement.

The rally will start from the Manazel department store in Isa Town and participants will march to the nearby Labour Ministry headquarters, starting at 4pm.

It will be held under the slogan No Real Development Without Social Justice.

"This is an important annual occasion for us as we join the rest of the world in marking the workers day," said a GFBTU spokesman.

He added the rights of migrant workers including domestic workers, sacked airline staff and low wages in the private sector would be highlighted.

"We hope that these issues are addressed as it will benefit both citizens and residents," said GFBTU women and children affairs head Suad Mubarak.

She also hopes to encourage the youth and women to join unions.

Mubarak praised the new Labour Law, but said extra provisions were needed to protect the rights of domestic workers.

BLUFF confirmed it had also requested permission to hold a mass rally at the same venue.

"We definitely will raise the issue of sacked workers from Gulf Air and Bahrain Air along with the 30-day annual leave counted as working days instead of calendar days," said a spokesman. – TradeArabia News Service