Page 428 - Records of Bahrain (7) (ii)_Neat

818 Records of Bahrain
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19. Thu workmen’s Compensation Law is cluarly a useful adminislru-
tlvu measure und substitutes modern principles and tidy methods for
the somewhat antiquated compensation provisions of the Shari'u which
are still current in most of the Arobiun Peninsula. The Labour Luw
is u much more far-rcuching innovation. As explained above,
important parts of it may not be implemented in practice for some

time but I am hopeful that it will prove of immediate value in two
main respects. There is an unceasing tendency in the Egyptian. and
other hostile Arab press and radio to list Bahrain among the places
still subject to colonial rule, The introduction of a thoroughly
progressive measure of this kind should bo of some benefit in
removing any such impression and in demonstrating that Bahrain

retains its capacity to Give a lead in standards of administration
in this pai t of the world by taking export udvieo and applying it to
local conditions. Secondly, the law fits very well into the
pattern of functional representation which I believe holds the bust
promise of orderly anu constitutional development in Bahrain and
perhaps in some other Persian Gulf States. The demano for labour

organization in Buhrain was in its origin partly political but it
also reflected u genuine desire to use trade unions for proper
industrial purposes und to ruise the standards of the working
population. The low now provides for the creation of labour unions

with fully adequate facilities to carry out their industrial r61e.
even if these provisions are not mude uso of for some time they cun
be pointed to as evidence of the Buhrain Government’s willingness
<> provide in large measure for popular representation in regard to
specific subjects of which the representatives are likely to have
direct knowledge and experience ana thus to provide at least a
partial answer to demands for constitutional progress towards
dcinoc* ucy. Moreover, as and when unions uro formed they should

provide an opportunity for those workers with more than the usuul
standards of drive und education 1;o find scope for their powers and
/capabilities
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