Manama - Bahraini firms have fired hundreds of mostly Shi'a Muslim workers who went on strike to support pro-democracy protesters, an opposition group said on Tuesday, in what appeared to be part of a government crackdown.
Bahrain's unions called a general strike on March 13 to support Shi'a protesters against the Sunni-led government who for weeks occupied a square in the capital until security forces moved in on March 16. The strike was called off on March 22.
Officials at Batelco, Gulf Air, Bahrain Airport Services and APM Terminals Bahrain said they had laid off more than 200 workers due to absence during the strike.
“It's illegal in Bahrain and anywhere else in the world to just strike. You have to give two weeks' notice to your employer,” said one executive who did not wish to be named.
Bahrain's main Shi'a opposition group, Wefaq, said it estimated that more than 1 000 workers had been laid off and that most were Shi'as.
Some analysts said large-scale dismissals of Shi'a workers could be politically risky by speeding up the disintegration of Bahraini society into Shi'a and Sunni enclaves.
“They're basically punishing people to the degree that they can, and I think in the long term this is a very risky strategy for them to take,” IHS Global Insight's Riani said.
“Unemployment has its effects on social relationships, the well-being of the society,” said Wefaq member Jasim Husain.
Government officials could not be reached for comment. - Reuters