ARAB nations, including Bahrain, have rejected efforts by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to ‘redefine’ workers into categories that are alien to Islamic values and culture.
The Union of Arab Chambers (UAC) has rebuffed as ‘unacceptable’ attempts to include transgender, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, intersex and other spectrums of gender and sexuality (LGBTQI+) in the definition of workers.
This came as UAC president Samir Nass addressed the ongoing 111th International Labour Conference in Geneva yesterday.
“We firmly oppose efforts on redefining the term ‘worker’ (by including) homosexual employees, and imposing its equality in international labour laws,” he said.
“This affects the ethical foundations of our Arab and Islamic world.”
Mr Nass, who is also Bahrain Chamber chairman, was speaking on behalf of the employers’ group at the event attended by delegates from around the world.
The senior Bahraini businessman added that the ILO’s so-called description of ‘marginalised and vulnerable groups’, to be interpreted in accordance with international labour standards and human rights mechanism, should not contradict the values, moral principles, regulations and laws of member-states.
The GDN previously quoted Bahrain Chamber board member and ILO member, under the Business Owners’ Group category representing West Asian countries, Sonya Janahi, who is also in Geneva attending the meeting, as saying that the ILO was pushing a foreign agenda and concepts such as LGBTQI+ that were against Islamic values and culture.
“The world is being shaken by one crisis after another. It requires a unified vision to overcome and deal with economic challenges, inflation and the disruption in the global supply chain,” said Mr Nass.
“There is no doubt that all the topics on the agenda of the 111th session and the accompanying meetings are of great importance in the current situation.
“Perhaps the most significant is the report for the ILO director-general on advancing social justice, which stipulates promoting decent work and achieving equality, while respecting the rights of others in the social environment.
“I draw your attention to the repeated violations of the rights of Palestinian workers, and call the ILO to take acute measures to put an end to such flagrant violations and preserve the rights of Palestinian workers.”
Mr Nass said it was vital for governments, employers and workers – as members of the ILO – to come up with a vision to deal with the exceptional circumstances countries are going through.
“It is no secret that our sincere Arab desire is to help international societies solve complex and multi-dimensional conflicts by promoting dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
“We need to play a more prominent role in building strong and sustainable economies characterised by the ability to raise global income levels and improve job opportunities.”
Bahrain has been an ILO member since 1977, ratifying several international conventions covering forced labour, occupational safety, rehabilitation and employment of disabled persons, among others.
Every June, which is observed as Pride Month by many nations, the LGBTQI+ activists make numerous attempts to raise awareness of their ideology.
For the third year running, the US Embassy in Bahrain caused an outrage by promoting Pride Month on its social media.
The National Assembly condemned and rejected the move, with MPs and Shura Council members objecting to the diplomatic mission’s ‘Rainbow Post’.
The embassy told the GDN that every June it joins nations across the world in celebrating diverse members of the community.
It defended its action by stating that it has devoted months to Arab-American History, Women’s History, Black History, Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage, Hispanic Heritage and Jewish American Heritage to celebrate the progress US society has made in promoting human rights and increasing equality for all.
Last year, several Islamic, social and charity societies united in a series of displays of anger about ‘ideological brainwashing’.
Billboards, banners and signs were erected across the kingdom to raise awareness about the agenda surrounding Pride Month promotions in an effort to stop innocents being indoctrinated by Western propaganda.
sandy@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))