The General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU) is preparing an organising campaign of migrant workers in the construction industry with the support of BWI. This is the result of a preparatory meeting with BWI representatives and GFBTU leadership who met from 9-11 May 2007 in Bahrain.

"The 8 local company unions in construction companies organise around 2000 members and there is still a huge capacity to organise", states Abdullah Hussain, Deputy General Secretary of the Federation.

Around 60000 migrant workers mainly from India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka work on construction sites in very poor conditions. Wages for migrant labourers are between 45 and 60 Bahrain Dinars a month (1 Bahrain Dinar = 2.6 US Dollar) and work in 10 hours shifts. Workers from Bahrain earn around 200 Dinars for the same jobs. Most workers are living in labour camps which are in very poor conditions (see photos).

The union is currently preparing an analysis of the construction industry in Bahrain and possible strategies to organise. There are also discussions to form a construction union structure within GFBTU on which the GFBTU congress will decide in 2008.

The organising campaign will start in fall 2007 and BWI will support with trade union organisers from countries of the migrant workers.

The General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU) was founded in 2004 and comprises 56 company unions, whereas 6 unions are in the government sector. Around 25 % of the workforce in Bahrain are members in trade unions.

BWI was represented by its Assistant General Secretary, Marion F. Hellmann, and Mustapha Said, BWI project coordinator for the Middle East.