Bahrain: Women shying away from union activities

Bahrain: Women shying away from union activities

MANAMA -Bahraini women are shying away from union activities and that has resulted in a drastic decline in their numbers with them now representing only 7 per cent of total unionists.

According to statistics issued in December, the number of women members in trade unions fell by half. A few years ago they were representing 14 per cent of total members.

Assistant General-Secretary for Women and Child Affairs at the Bahrain Federation of Trade Unions Suad Mubarak said that the decline could be attributed to many factors, mainly employers' preference to recruit men. This is highlighted in the statistics of the General Organisation for Social Insurance which shows a drop in number of women workers.

Suad said that many employers don't want to recruit women because of maternity leave and other privileges. She said that it was unfair to exclude women from the workforce for raising and taking care of their children.

"The public sector gives two months maternity leave and the private sector gives 45 days, but we are calling for the implementation of the recommendation of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to grant three months maternity leave,” she said while pointing out that the UAE and Kuwait allow up to six months leave.

Suad said that they are making all out efforts to attract women to join in union activities. "We have been visiting workplaces to inform women workers of the importance to join their unions to tackle their work-related problems."

Suad also attributed the decline in the number of women unionists to harsh treatments unionists receive from their mangers at work, especially after the recent sacking of unionists -including two women -for demanding better job privileges to their colleagues.

She said that many women workers hesitate to join the unions to avoid clashing with the management as well as neglecting their obligations towards their families. "We don't want union activities to be dominated only by men as for better services for workers the women and youth should also be associated," she said

---Khaleej Times Online, July 7, 2008