FOUR unemployed Bahrainis have pledged to sleep rough for days in protest if authorities don’t meet their demands.

The university graduates are demanding jobs in governmental organisations, saying they are fully qualified to take up any position offered.

The men, who began their vigil at 7am and slept rough outside the Civil Service Bureau (CSB), Juffair, last night, have also vowed to continue protesting until their voices are heard.

Degree

Hassan Abdulkareem, 23, Hammed Ali Ebrahim, 28, and Hani Abdulla, 26 – who have all graduated with bachelor’s degree in physical education – told the GDN yesterday that CSB officials dismissed their complaints.

A fourth Bahraini, known only as Ali who had graduated with a bachelor’s in accounting, was not present when the GDN visited the men’s camp site yesterday but is understood he participated in the day-long protest and would sleep rough with the rest of the men.

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Country Reports on Human Rights Practices – 2007
Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
March 11, 2008

Bahrain is a monarchy with a population of approximately 725,000, approximately 430,000 of whom are citizens, according to official figures. King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa is the head of state and all branches of government. The king appoints a cabinet of ministers, half of whom are members of the Al‑Khalifa royal family. The 2002 constitution reinstated a legislative body with one elected chamber, the Council of Deputies, and one appointed chamber, the Shura Council. All political societies participated in the November and December 2006 parliamentary and municipal elections. Trained local observers did not report significant problems during the elections, although there were allegations that the government manipulated general poll center vote counts in some cases and gerrymandered political districts. Civilian authorities generally maintained effective control of the security forces.

Citizens did not have the right to change their government. The government restricted civil liberties, including freedoms of press, speech, assembly, association, and some religious practices. Although citizens were not able to form political parties, the law authorized registered political societies to run candidates and participate in other political activities. The judiciary lacked independence, and corruption was a problem. Domestic violence against women and children was common, as was discrimination on the basis of gender, religion, sect, and ethnicity. Trafficking in persons and restrictions on the rights of expatriate workers remained problems. The Shi’a majority population was routinely discriminated against.

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Bahrain: Three unemployed citizens continue their sit-in

The streets have become a shelter for the unemployed

Manama 13th November 2007

No. BH000311

Arrest / mistreatment / financial rights

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights has been watching and is greatly concerned for three unemployed young men, their names are Ali Alhamly, Salman Najji, and Shaker Abdul-aal. These three men, whose ages range in the twenties and thirties, started a sit-in on the 12th of November 2007 by the Civil Service Court, which is the party responsible for employment in the Ministry.

Ali Alhamly told the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights: “In 2002 we organized a sit-in by the civil service court, after which there was a meeting between the demonstrators and the Minister of the Court. In that meeting we were promised work opportunities in the governmental ministries, but until this day we are still unemployed.”

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Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) said that they will submit some documents related to the unemployed plight to the International Labor Organization (ILO). BYSHR clarified that this will take place in cooperation with Unemployed and Low-paid Committee.

BYSHR stated that a number of youth will deliver the documents to ILO headquarters in Beirut. These youth will meet ILO officials. The documents are discussing certain issues including without limitation to Insurance against Unemployment Law, Low-paid employees, and the unemployed issue. The documents are supported with documentary films on the aforementioned issues.

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Youngsters demand better wages
By MANDEEP SINGH

A GROUP of youngsters yesterday held a demonstration outside the National Assembly building in Gudaibya to demand better living conditions and higher wages.

The demonstration, which was led by members of the Unemployment Committee and the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights, also demanded that the one per cent unemployment tax should not be deducted from the salaries of low paid employees.

Society president Mohammed Al Maskati said the government should look at providing the most ideal jobs for the Bahraini youth in private and public sector companies so that they feel wanted and useful.

He said all kinds of restrictions on activities of non-governmental organisations should be lifted immediately.

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Bahrain: Human rights youth and the unemployed will submit documents to International Labor Organization Soon

Manama, 20 May 2007

Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) said that they will submit some documents related to the unemployed plight to the International Labor Organization (ILO). BYSHR clarified that this will take place in cooperation with Unemployed and Low-paid Committee.

BYSHR stated that a number of youth will deliver the documents to ILO headquarters in Beirut. These youth will meet ILO officials. The documents are discussing certain issues including without limitation to Insurance against Unemployment Law, Low-paid employees, and the unemployed issue. The documents are supported with documentary films on the aforementioned issues.

BYSHR clarified that this step is the final solution after trying out all possibilities to solve the problem on the local level in Bahrain. This is the first step in a number of procedures aiming at finding proper solutions to Bahraini youth problems.

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