Plans to increase premium petrol prices by 20 per cent in Bahrain would drive thousands of low-income families into despair, it has been claimed.

Bahrain's political societies and trade unionists yesterday hit out at the government proposal to raise the cost of Mumtaz from 100 fils per litre to 120 fils.

Angry MPs earlier agreed to summon Finance Minister Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa and National Oil and Gas Authority chairman Dr Abdulhussain Mirza to parliament for questioning them over the plan.

'Thousands of people in the country are already reeling under the impact of rising food prices, stagnant salaries and low pensions as well as the economic impact of the global downturn and a fuel price hike will be the last straw,' said General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU) spokesman Jaffer Khalil.

Speaking after a joint GFBTU meeting with representatives of nine political societies at its headquarters in Adliya, he said the proposed increase could be a prelude to subsequent increase in gas, diesel, other petroleum products and oil derivative prices.

'We are all surprised at the government decision, which has been taken without consulting anyone,' he told the GDN.

'Something that will impact each and everyone living in this country should be discussed with all concerned before it is implemented.

'We do not know when this decision will be implemented, so we have been left in the dark. This is improper.'

An anonymous oil official earlier told our sister newspaper Gulf Daily News (GDN) the increase was being discussed in government circles and could be implemented in the next few months.

'The government has in its draft budget for this year and the next said it intends to gradually remove subsidies and we feel this is the beginning,' said Khalil.

'It has also indicated it is about to start implementing a plan to increase prices of petroleum by saying it will remove them from the subsidies list.'

He said the government had never clarified what the impact of the removal of the subsidies would be on the lives of citizens and claimed they had not bothered to gauge public opinion.

Khalil said all participants at the meeting stressed any revision in prices of essential goods and services should not be at the expense of citizens.

'They are already suffering and should not be burdened further,' he said.

'The government should announce with full transparency what it intends to do and all political associations and trade unions should be taken into confidence.'

Khalil said the interest of all workers and employees, particularly those from low and middle income categories should be paramount.

'We also seek the support of parliament to call and question government ministers, particularly the ministers of oil and finance, to explain the position of the government in lifting subsidies on oil and oil products,' he added.

The National Democratic Action Society, Islamic Work Society, Al Wasat Arabic Islamic Society, National Democratic Gathering Society, Al Wefaq National Islamic Society, National Brotherhood Society, National Islamic Tribune Society, Gathering Society and the Democratic Progressive Tribune Society took part in the meeting.-TradeArabia News Service