The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) said that it had received 1,624 complaints from individuals alleging that they had been dismissed or suspended from employment as a result of the events early this year.

These allegations included dismissals in both the public and private sectors, it added.

In the public sector, 465 employees alleged that they had been dismissed from work, while 355 alleged that they had been suspended. A total of 788 employees in the private sector alleged that they had been dismissed, while 16 alleged that they had been suspended.

The three main grounds used to dismiss employees in the public sector were absence from work, involvement in the demonstrations, at times occurring on work premises, and public display of opinions incompatible with the internal regulations of the ministries involved.

In the private sector, the two main grounds used to dismiss employees were absence from work and involvement in union activity related to the demonstrations.

It said that according to the latest information provided to it by the bureau, of the 2,075 public sector employees who were dismissed, 1,682 were reinstated and 180 employees remain dismissed with rights of appeal. 'In addition, 219 employees were referred to the Public Prosecution, but were not suspended and are still receiving full pay.' – TradeArabia News Service