Page 180 - Records of Bahrain (7) (i)_Neat

166 Records of Bahrain

BRITISH RESIDENCY
BAHRAIN.
(210(1/109/55)
August 21, 19135-
CONFIDENTIAL

In contrast to last Sunday's mooting of the Labour 1
Law Advioory Committee, Y/hich was something of a fiasco r-
with employers• representatives'and v<orkers' .representatives
sparring steadily with each other for three hours - and ,
about which I sent you only a manuscript note, this
morning's meeting was highly successful. We got as far ,
as the end of Article 18 (Article 17 of the original'draft)f
and although a decision on the indemnity or gratuity-for-
ocrvice Article was deferred until our next meeting, I
begin to sec daylight ahead. Another two meetings will, •
I think, sec us at the end of Part I.
2. . The 'indemnity article* is, as you will understand,
causing a considerable amount of discussion but we are,
I think, on the way to u wording of it which will be
acceptable bo both employers and workers. If we do not
obtain agreement on the wording - that is on the minimum
period for which a gratuity shall be payable and how it
shall be calculated - then we ahull simply put the
suggestions of both sides to the Government and leave, it
to them to decide what shall be put into tho law. If that
happens Reg Smith (the Acting Adviser) and, I suspect, the
two Shaikhs who are the other Government representatives!
will recommend the adoption of a compromise period some-?,
where between tho periods suggested by employers and v/orkers,
On the method of calculating the indemnity I think we may
get agreement,

3. Once we have dealt with Part I, I shall have the
English text tidied up by Judge Peace (legal phraseology
and any other legal points he may pick up) and have it
sent to the Foreign Office, the Department, and to you.
We shall then go ahead with consideration of part II. As
soon as y/e have the "all clear" on the English text of
Part I, I shall suggest that the Committoe consider having
the Arabic text published so that anyone who hus comments
or criticisms to make about it can make them to the Committee.
I shall suggest that similar action be taken with Parts II,
III and IV - and V if Workmen's Compensation becomes a part
of the Labour Law. I hope that by giving people a chance
to see the draft law in good time we ohall avoid the uproar
and general dissatisfaction that seems to have followed the
publication of nearly every draft ordinance here recently,
(I have just now been prevented from holding two meetings
of the Labour Committee weekly because Reg Smith - a most
useful member of our Committee - is a Government member
of a newly-^formed Committee, to consider revision of a
draft Penal Codw which was to have been introduced on
September 1,)
A,

M. T, Audsley, Esq,, C.M.G,,
British Embassy,
Cairo,