Middle East News
Bahrain unions urge government to protect financial workers
May 1, 2010, 17:02 GMT
Manama - The secretary general of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU) on Saturday urged the government to protect the jobs of financial sector workers, comparing their layoff to the loss of a 'national treasure.'
Salman al-Mahfood's comments came as hundreds of union workers marched through the Gulf island's capital Manama - a financial hub for the region - to mark International Workers Day.
He also criticized the government for not involving GFBTU or the Bankers Union in its efforts to support the financial industry.
'While other Gulf states and countries assisted institutions that were exposed to losses to preserve jobs, the government stood by watching as these companies reported losses which cannot be confirmed and workers were being laid off,' said al-Mahfood.
The Central Bank of Bahrain reported in March that employment in the financial services industry had grown by 1.5 per cent in 2009. Around 14,000 people were employed in the sector.
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