State-run Bahrain Petroleum Co (Bapco) has fired nearly 300 employees for being absent from work when pro-democracy protests paralysed much of the kingdom, the energy minister was reported as saying by the official state news agency.
They were absent during “the recent crisis”, the Bahrain news agency said. Pro-democracy demonstrations erupted in February and a strike was called in March.
Bahraini firms have fired hundreds of mostly Shi’ite Muslim workers who went on strike to support pro-democracy protesters in what appeared to be part of a government crackdown. [ID:nLDE73425B]
Energy Minister Abdul-Hussain bin Ali Mirza was quoted as saying 293 employees had been dismissed, 50 were under investigation and 11 board members from the workers’ union had been referred to the general prosecutor. Mirza was not immediately available for comment.
Bahrain’s unions called for a general strike on March 13 to support Shi’ite protesters against the Sunni-led government, and called it off on March 22.
Officials at Batelco , Gulf Air, Bahrain Airport Services and APM Terminals have said they laid off more than 200 workers due to absences during the strike.
In March, Bahrain, where the Sunni king rules over a Shi’ite majority, crushed weeks of street protests calling for greater freedoms, a constitutional monarchy and an end to discrimination.
Neighbouring Sunni-led Gulf states sent troops to back its forces, boosting regional tension with nearby Shi’ite rival Iran, which Bahrain accuses of helping instigate the protests.
Since then, Bahrain has targeted demonstrators. Hundreds have been arrested and dozens put on trial in special courts. Others have been fired from government jobs. A state of emergency is due to be lifted on June 1.
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