Bahrain Trade Union signs in MOU with GEFONT

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) prepared by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) was signed between the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU) and the General Federation of Nepal Trade Union (GEFONT) in Kuwait.

“The MoU will address pre-migration issues, where the workers are cheated by local agents,” said GFBTU member Karim Radhi.

“The participation of the GEFONT in the agreement will help in exchanging information and to work together to ratify the ILO conventions on migrant worker rights,” he said.
 

Karim Radhi

The move is aimed at helping more than 16,000 Nepali migrant workers in the country. Mohammed Abdul Rahman on behalf of GFBTU and Ramesh Padal on behalf of GEFONT signed the agreement at the meeting of Kuwait Trade Union Federation (KTUF).

The GFBTU delegation noted that the majority of Nepalese workers in Bahrain are working in construction sector.

“According to trade union law, all workers regardless of nationality or origin have the right to join trade unions and part of Nepalese are already part of GFBTU through their companies’ unions,” Mr Radhi told DT.

In order to organise Nepalese workers in the country, GFBTU suggested sector-wise unions, mainly in construction sector, which will help organising workers.

This will not be on company basis but on sector, regardless of the existence of local union at the work site, explained Mr Radhi.

Mr Radhi said that Bahrain will see a delegation of GEFONT in March, who will be helpful to communicate to the workers better and create awareness on labour laws and safety issues.