HR News & Views in Bahrain

Midday break helps save workers' lives

By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief
Published: September 15, 2008, 23:53
Manama: A midday break at construction sites, implemented in July and August in Bahrain, has been crucial in saving workers' lives, the labour minister has said.
"We have received an overwhelming response from construction companies in their compliance with the government's ban on work under the scorching heat between noon and 4pm," Dr Majeed Al Alawi said.

"The fact that a large number of companies adhered to the directives of the government has paid off in saving lives and limiting accidents. There were no deaths reported and incidents of heat stress at construction sites has been substantially reduced."
Following last year's success of the government's decision to stop work in open areas between noon and 4pm for two months, the government re-introduced the system this summer.
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"Only two per cent of the companies did not comply with the ban this summer, down from 12 per cent last year. We acknowledge the cooperation of the companies in achieving the government's objectives to provide a safe and healthy environment for workers in line with international standards," Al Alawi said.
Vigil
This summer, labour and safety inspectors made 14,348 visits to construction sites throughout Bahrain.
"They found that 14,014 companies complied, while 334 establishments, employing 1,415 workers, were found violating the directives and were reported to the public prosecution," Al Alawi said.
Last year, in the wake of visits to 3,383 sites, 472 establishments, employing 1,641 workers, were taken to court. Violators are fined between 50 and 300 Bahraini dinars (Dh500-3,000) for each worker involved.
Medical sources said the heat ban last year helped reduce the cases of workers falling off buildings by 50 per cent.

Nurses reject 37pc pay rise By ANIQA HAIDER
MANAMA
LEADERS of Bahrain's 6,000 nurses yesterday dismissed pay rises averaging 37 per cent as not good enough. The troubled Bahrain Nursing Society (BNS) says it will continue its fight for a better deal, despite the new BD5.7 million-a-year package announced by the Cabinet on Sunday.
BNS president Rula Al Saffar, whose re-election is disputed by the government, said too few nurses would benefit.
The lion's share would go to nurses holding bachelor's degrees, while diploma holders would miss out, said Ms Al Saffar.
She said the nurses, whose basic wage starts at BD300 a month, would continue the campaign that started in July for better wages and would wear black ribbons after Eid, to mark their discontent.
They are currently wearing white ribbons, in respect of Ramadan.
A meeting will be held later to discuss what to do next.
"There are many nurses who have diplomas and have worked as professional nurses for several years," said Ms Al Saffar.
"Based on their experience, they should also be considered for the increment.
"Trained and professional nurses are not considered for the degrees, as they take only 100 per session.
"Due to the shortage of nurses, the experienced nurses are asked to give priority to newcomers.
"When they get their bachelor's degrees, they are promoted and their salaries are increased, while the experienced ones are overlooked.
"This makes them feel that juniors are being promoted, while they are still standing in the queue."
Cabinet Affairs Minister Shaikh Ahmed bin Ateyatala Al Khalifa announced on Sunday that the new package was expected to benefit up to 3,000 nurses.
Meanwhile, BNS is still incensed that the Social Development Ministry has frozen its bank account.
It appointed Dr Fakhria Diari as interim director of the society last month, to oversee what it said were long-overdue elections for a new board.
Ms Al Saffar told the GDN yesterday that the ministry broke the law by freezing the society's account and the BNS has demanded a full investigation.
"No one has the right to freeze anyone's accounts until there is a court order," she said.
"The society has already elected a new board after its previous board was dissolved and an interim director appointed."
Ms Al Saffar said the new executive board was elected on August 24 in the presence of Social Development Ministry representatives.
"Our elections were held on August 24 and observed by the ministry human resources and finance assistant under-secretary Maha Mandeel," she said.
"Also present were the representatives from Human Rights Society, General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions and the Transparency Society."
The new executive board consists of seven members, who were elected from a total of nine participants.
They include vice-president Jaffar Mohammed, general secretary Ebrahim Al Demistani, treasurer Naemat Mubarak, board members Shereen Mohammed and Shafiqa Hassan.
But a Social Development Ministry spokeswoman told the GDN yesterday that the elections would be held again, in Dr Fakhria's presence.
"We haven't received any election update from Dr Fakhria.
"So we don't accept the new members and the elected committee and they have to go through the process again in the presence of Dr Fakhria."
Dr Diari was not available to comment as she is out of Bahrain.

Bahrain parliamentary bloc seeks to house bachelors in special labour area

By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief
Published: September 23, 2008, 13:07
Manama: Al Wefaq, Bahrain’s largest parliamentary bloc, said it would push for the removal of expatriate-bachelor labourers from Bahraini communities and house them in purposefully-built industrial areas.

"The issue of expatriate bachelors living within Bahraini family neighbourhoods is critical because of its social and behavioural implications and addressing it will figure high on our agenda for the upcoming parliamentary term," MP Abdullah Al A’ali said.

"We have received numerous complaints from Bahraini nationals about the presence of foreigners who do not respect local traditions and values, and we need to genuinely address the issue," he said.

Al Wefaq will set up a task force comprising municipal council leaders to analyse field reports prepared by specialized centres on the issue.

"We will also look at the legislation in neighbouring countries and at the practical measures they took to tackle the issue. The examples of Kuwait and Qatar are very relevant since both countries built labour towns and have comprehensive regulations governing the presence of expatriate bachelors," he said.

Al Wefaq, which chairs two of Bahrain’s five municipal councils, said it would request help from the labour, health and interior ministries.

Training expert to be honoured
TOP experts from Bahrain will be taking part in a global conference on training and human development in Cairo, Egypt.
A delegation from the Bahrain Society of Training and Development (BSTD) will represent Bahrain at the 35th Arab Regional and Training and Development Organistion's (ARTDO) International Conference and Exhibition.
Among the delegates from Bahrain are BSTD chief executive officer and executive adviser to the board Ebrahim Al Dossary, ARTDO board member and Gulf Air chief people officer Ahmed Al Banna, BSTD president and BIBF deputy director Hussain Ismail, BSTD public relations director Essam Al Alawi and BSTD programmes director Fathia Al Awadi.
Also going are Bahrain Airport Services (BAS) deputy chief executive officer Salman Al Mahmeed, BAS recruitment and administration head Mariam Sowaileh, Gulf Air human resources officials, Works Ministry officials and others.
Mr Al Dossary will be honoured during the event, after becoming the first Arab to be named ARTDO Man of the Year.
The 2007 award was for his contribution in the field of human resources locally, as one of the leaders of BSTD and internationally as champion and chairman of IFTDO.
The four-day learning event is being held under the theme Human Capital: Training and Development for the Knowledge Society, from November 3 to 6, at the Marriott Zamalek Hotel.
"This conference offers an excellent opportunity to broaden our knowledge base in the filed of people development," said international relations director Gopika Beri.
"It features an exciting blend of Asian, Arab and global experiences and expertise in the development and management of human capital.
"A unique opportunity for multi-cultural learning and networking is offered to participants.
"The Bahrain delegates will serve as ambassadors for the kingdom and promote it internationally.

Ms Beri said the conference would bring together human resources professionals from various countries and government and private organisations, to share their knowledge and experience. For more information and registration, contact BSTD on 17825518.

Workplace safety to be reviewed

MANAMA: The Seoul Declaration on safety and health at work asserts the importance of promoting a preventative safety and health culture.
This places occupational safety and health high on national agendas as well as promoting high levels of safety and health at work as the responsibility of society as a whole, National Occupational Safety & Health Centre (OSHO) general manager Alawi Shubbar said.
The World Congress on Safety and Health at Work is an ideal forum to share knowledge and experience in achieving safe, healthy and productive workplaces.
Progress made on achieving safety and health at work will be reviewed during the 19th World Congress on Safety and Health at Work in 2011.
Mr Shubbar added that all members of society must contribute to achieving this goal by ensuring that priority is given to occupational safety and health in national agendas and by building and maintaining a national preventative safety and health culture.
Mr Shubbar also added: "According to Seoul Declaration on the occasion of 18th World Congress on Safety and Health at Work, a national preventative safety and health culture is one in which the right to a safe and healthy working environment is respected at all levels, where governments, employers and workers actively participate in securing a safe and healthy working environment through a system of defined rights, responsibilities and duties, and where the principle of prevention is accorded the highest priority."
"The continuous improvement of occupational safety and health should be promoted by a systems approach to the management of occupational safety and health, including the development of a national policy taking into consideration the principles in Part II of the ILO Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155).
Moreover, governments should consider the ratification of the ILO Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 as a priority, as well as other relevant ILO conventions on safety and health at work and ensure the implementation of their provisions, as a means to improve national performance on safety and health at work in a systematic way," Mr Shubbar said.

Dubai, UAE: GETEX, the event and exhibitions brand considered synonymous with education, has announced that it is launching an Autumn edition of its twenty-year old student recruitment event. In a move aimed at offering education providers an opportunity to enrol students for the academic cycle beginning in January 2009, GETEX Autumn presents a two-stop itinerary with stops in Manama, Bahrain, and Dubai, UAE.

?GETEX Autumn complements the GETEX brand?s agenda of creating opportunities for education and excellence, and similarly aims to ensure that education remains a priority throughout the year,? said Anselm Godinho, Managing Director, International Conferences & Exhibitions (IC&E) ? organisers of the event.

?This year, GETEX Autumn is being held in Dubai as well as in Bahrain, due in large part to market demand and learner preferences. Our research indicates that many universities are looking for a consolidated platform to help enrol learners for the academic cycle starting in January, while at the same time, many learners are interested in starting earlier than the regular fall intake,? he added

GETEX Autumn ? Bahrain, to be held from 23rd - 25th October 2008 at the University of Bahrain in Manama, puts exhibitors in touch with a large number of graduates and working adults from Bahrain eager to explore education and career options. GETEX Autumn?s Bahrain leg is expected to also draw a large audience of students and job seekers from adjacent Saudi Arabia.

GETEX Autumn ? Dubai, to be held from 28th to 30th October 2008 at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, offers an excellent opportunity for education and training providers to focus on their fall intake for the spring academic cycle, and for recruiters and employers wanting to bolster their human resource pool at a fraction of normal hiring and vetting costs.

In Dubai, GETEX Autumn is being held concurrently with OGS 2008, the Middle East?s most comprehensive cross-industry engineering event for oil, gas, electricity, water, instrumentation and automation. Drawing upon a specialized audience of engineers and technical professionals, GETEX Autumn?s Dubai leg will be synchronised with OGS 2008 to offer unparalleled opportunities for universities to promote engineering and technical courses; and for engineering graduates to network with industry professionals, explore employment opportunities and choose career paths.

?Engineers and technical professionals are very much in demand in the Middle East at the moment, as economic diversification is being driven by engineering and technical expertise. GETEX Autumn is catering to this demand in two ways.

On the one hand, technical and engineering courses will take centre-stage at GETEX Autumn, complementing regional initiatives for moving to knowledge-based economies. On the other, GETEX Autumn?s Dubai leg is being paired with OGS 2008, the region?s definitive show for engineers. The cross-industrial synergy created will be a boon to learners and fresh engineering graduates, who can use the events as a consolidated platform to explore further study, look into career paths and job opportunities, and attend interactive workshops and seminars,? noted Godinho.

?Overall, the GETEX Autumn events are designed to promote regional education and satisfy the demands of a competitive employment market wanting fresh talent, particularly in engineering and technical fields, to bolster human resource pools,? he concluded.

Source: www.uaetoday.com

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