Noon Work in the Construction Sector Prohibited in July and August

Manama, June 18. (BNA) --HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour Mr. Subah Salem Al Dossari, announced that the ministry will begin as of first of July activating the ministerial order on the prohibition of working during noon time for labourers, from 12 noon to four pm during the months of July and August. Mr. Al Dossari said that Ministerial Order No.
(24) for the year 2007, on the prevention of working during noon time for workers in the construction sector under the sun and in open spaces from 12 to 4 pm during the summer, which will enter its fifth year, achieved its objective. He added that the order was issued four years ago to protect this segment of workers, in particular those working in the construction, building and contracting sector at noon during the summer season, where the country is witnessing high air temperatures and humidity which may expose those workers to risks due to heat stress, heat stroke and falling during carrying out their works. He stressed that the Ministry of Labour and in order to protect workers will not relent in the inspection of employers to stop any violation to the order during the period of prohibition in the various work sites at noon and in open spaces. The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour confirmed that the application of the order by the ministry was welcomed by employers in these sectors and their workers, and said that it reflected the commitment of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the international conventions in this framework and adherence to standards for the protection of workers at work to secure safe and healthy work environment for them. He also said that this gave Bahrain good reputation and appreciation of all Arab and international organizations specialized in this regard in line with international conventions and human rights laws. Mr. Al Dossari of noted that the labour sector in the ministry has prepared a plan for a campaign that would include inspection visits to work sites for the facilities where the order is applied in the different areas of Bahrain in order to ascertain the extent of commitment to implement the order to provide the necessary protection for workers at their work sites from the blows of the sun and heat stress, which workers may be exposed to during the restriction period due to heat and high humidity, which could put the lives of workers at risk.

LABOUR TIME: DC law firm defends Bahrain on human rights crackdown

And now the Bahraini regime has inked a contract with a high-priced Washington law firm to help fight a labor complaint filed by the AFL-CIO about an under-reported aspect of the crackdown: the firing of hundreds of workers and union leaders for participating in strikes and other pro-democracy actions. Sorini, Samet & Associates will be paid at a rate as high as $550 per hour, plus expenses, to help Bahrain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lobby against the April complaint submitted by the AFL-CIO under the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement The AFL-CIO complaint, submitted to the Department of Labor, alleges that Bahrain has violated labor protections that are laid out in the Free Trade Agreement between the countries, which was passed by Congress in the mid-2000s and signed by President Bush. The AFL-CIO complaint demands the Obama administration formally intervene under the terms of the trade agreement to pressure Bahrain to stop retaliating against trade unionists -- and also to serve notice that the U.S. is withdrawing from the deal in 180 days Unions played an important role in Bahrain's protest movement, including by launching a week-long general strike in March. In response, several government-owned companies, including Bahrain Petroleum Co., fired hundreds of Shiite workers who participated in strikes and protests. The AFL cites an April report from an international labor group finding that "some 2,000 workers in 30 mainly government enterprises have been sacked for joining trade union actions in support of dialogue and an end to violence In Sorini, Samet & Associates the Bahraini regime picked a firm that boasts its professionals "have been involved in virtually all significant U.S. trade negotiations and trade legislation" in the last 25 years. The contract with Bahrain was signed by partner Andrew Samet, a former deputy undersecretary of labor during the Clinton administration and former top aide to Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York. Samet's bio notes that he was responsible for implementing the labor deal that accompanied NAFTA President Obama, who has been criticized for giving Bahrain a pass on human rights abuses because of U.S. energy and military interests in the Gulf, this week met with Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa in Washington. The crown prince also met with Hillary Clinton.

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