RETIRED Alba workers, who claim their working environment caused them chronic diseases, took their fight for compensation to Bahrain's Parliament yesterday.
Around 30 pensioners picketed the building's gates in a show of solidarity with the 74 claimants and raise awareness of their plight, as one of the group was being treated in the Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC).
Alba Workers Victims Committee president Faisal Mohammed Yousif said one of the pensioners, Abbas Khamis, had to be rushed to the hospital on Monday after complaining of dizziness and chronic back pain.
"He was in a wheelchair at our last protest when we gathered at the United Nations (UN) House on February 17 and was expected to join us today as well but it was not to be."
Mr Yousif said the 61-year-old worked in the Alba casthouse, which involved him lifting heavy loads.
"Now that he is sick, he, like many of us, has been forgotten by the company," he told the GDN.
Mr Yousif said the group would continue to protest until the company listened to them and addressed their grievances.
"After all, it is only a few thousand dinars that we want and we expect the company to come forward and help us because we have been in the company for so long."
The men were later joined by MPs Ibrahim Busandal, Mohammed Yousuf Mezal, Abd'ali Mohammed Hassan and Adel Al Mou'ada, who said they would take up the matter with the government and their parliamentary colleagues.
"We need the help of the government and much more. Otherwise we will be at our death beds soon, leaving our families in the lurch. We have to get help," said Mr Yousif.
During the UN House protest, the group submitted two letters to a UN representative - one addressed to the UN and the other to the Geneva-based International Labour Organisation.
"We were told there would be a sympathetic hearing but until today, we have heard nothing. We know this will take time but we shall continue protesting," said Mr Yousif.
The pensioners, whose plight first emerged more than two years ago, have continually claimed their working environment caused them chronic diseases.
They are demanding better pensions and compensation for alleged illnesses due to years of working at the smelter.
The group is supported by Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society (BHRWS) secretary-general Faisal Fulad.
Mr Yousif claimed the company lacked occupational and health safety measures when they joined during the 1970s and 1980s and that led to them suffering illnesses such as cancer and osteoporosis, diabetes and back injuries.
He said some workers, who retired in 2004, have been compensated with 32 salaries plus BD9,000 and said the group was looking for the same treatment.
Alba officials have repeatedly declined to comment, but had earlier said workers accepted early retirement packages and did not qualify for improved packages introduced in 2004.
The GDN reported last November that MPs demanded justice for the pensioners during one of its weekly sessions.
Al Wefaq bloc presented a list of needy pensioners at the session and demanded urgent government intervention.
Of the 74, 16 have died, but their families are still paying medical dues and say they are struggling to cope with their daily expenses.
mandeep@gdn.com.bh
