The Secretary-General of the GFBTU Abdulqadir Al-Shihabi said that the union has finished registering unemployed and noticed that there are 15,000 unemployed in Bahrain. He said that the unemployment rate is 10% and not 4%, as the Labor Minister states, adding that 70% of the unemployed don't receive unemployment allowance.

The Secretary-General of the GFBTU Abdulqadir Al-Shihabi said that the Board of Directors of the Social Insurance Authority is considering a package of amendments to the social insurance system, most notably the elimination of the 3% annual increase for retirees, among other benefits.

Batelco, Bahrain Telecommunication Company, has begun to dismiss and notify many Bahraini employees of subjecting them to a trial period of 60 days to test their skills, although some of them have been working for decades of outstanding performance at the company.

The Secretary-General of GFBTU Abdulqadir Al-Shihabi said that Bahrain's private sector has provided more than 33,000 jobs with salaries exceeding 700 BD, however, these jobs were taken by foreigners. Al-Shihab confirmed that these foreigners could be replaced by Bahrainis, noting that some salaries exceed 6,000 BD.

The Secretary General of GFBTU, Hassan Al-Halwachi, announced that "the trade union work is witnessing a serious decline due to the fierce struggle of a number of large companies to weaken and marginalize it at a time when the Ministry of Labor is looking at what is happening in a negative way and not doing what expresses its real role as provided by the International labor standards, being the party responsible for protecting labor rights, respecting trade union freedoms and imposing respect on employers."

The General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions described the "invitation of a Zionist delegation to an economic conference to be held in Bahrain in April, under the auspices of Labour Fund "Tamkeen", as suspicious and shocking to Bahraini workers and people."

The General Federation of Workers Trade Unions in Bahrain (GFWTUB) refused any act of spending the unemployment funds on anything other than the fields they're allocated to and using them for objectives other than what the Fund was established for.

Assistant Secretary-General for General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions Abdelwahed Al-Najjar said �there are some companies controlled by foreigners, thus, Bahraini citizen is not given priority in employment,� adding that �the absence of a law requiring priority of employing Bahrainis has led to increased dominance of foreigners in many companies.�

Bahraini Undersecretary of Ministry of Labor Sabah Al-Dosari said that companies and institutions are not obligated to prioritize Bahraini employment, as the Bahraini economy is an open economy.

The General Federation of Bahraini Trade Unions (GFBTU) Hassan Al-Halwaji called upon the leased workers of Bapco to take their time before accepting "Tatweer's" offer, stating that a call has been made to the Ministry of Labor and union regarding this topic.

An English-language local newspaper said that Bahrain is being urged to reconsider a visa rule first announced in January, which threatens to break up some expatriate families.

The Secretary General of the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU), Hassan Halwachi, warned from dividing major companies, or selling some of its services, in a speech he delivered Monday (May 1, 2017), during the annual ceremony commemorating Labor Day.

Secretary General of the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU) Hassan Halwachi confirmed that the Labor Day procession of this year (2017) continues to be prevented.

35 Bahraini trade unions condemned what is called an �unfair attack� launched by some business owners against trade unions and union activists without any right.

The General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU) said it is following up with great interest the rumored, mysterious, disclosed trends by some parties to make changes in social protection and social insurance systems.

Secretary General of the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU), Hassan Halwachi, said that the implementation of the tripartite agreement in full requires direct intervention by the Bahraini government.

Bahrain Mirror: Secretary-General of the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions, Hassan Halwachi, said the fees for renewing work permits for 2 years will be 644 Dinars for 2 years, and 472 Dinars for 1 year.

The Secretary General of the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions, Hassan Al Halwachi, said Bahraini women still suffer from low wages in the private sector, explaining that they receive less than 100 dinars per month in the kindergarten sector.

Head of General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions quoted King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa as saying he wants dismissed employees to return to their jobs.

Bahrain King met with members of General Secretariat of General Federation of Bahrain Trade Union led by Hassan Al-Halwachi.