A NEW probe into alleged financial and administrative irregularities and mismanagement at the country’s national carrier, Gulf Air, could be launched next month.
Eleven MPs, led by Mohammed Al Marafee, submitted the request to Parliament Speaker Ahmed Al Musallam yesterday.
The probe would focus on five aspects: recurring sackings and dismissals of Bahraini employees; payrolls, operational procedures, accountability and voicing of grievances; reasons behind restructuring; Bahrainisation plans; and scrutinising books for the financial status (income and expenditure).
The request for probe will be put up for a vote at an upcoming session following parliamentary recess, as MPs are expected to return to their seats on October 8.
The GDN reported that a deal has been brokered to return 35 axed Bahraini Gulf Air employees whose services were not required under initial company restructuring plans earlier this month.
The agreement would see either the workers returned to newly-merged departments within the airline’s operations, or presented with other amicable options.
The settlement was reached after 96 hours of talks and joint meetings between Labour Minister Jameel Humaidan and Gulf Air Group Holding Company chairman Zayed Alzayani.
Mr Humaidan had explained that, in agreement with the company, the options presented to the employees would include providing alternative job opportunities in companies under the umbrella of Gulf Air Group Holding Company, or retirement offers to those whose years of service qualify them for retirement, or providing appropriate end-of-service offers to those who wish to leave.
“We want a comprehensive insider investigation into all affairs of the national carrier, and not just the recent decision to sack employees,” said Mr Al Marafee.
“It is a bigger issue as we don’t see Gulf Air going on the right track, not just in recent years, but for decades,” he claimed.
The MP further alleged that deep financial and administrative woes were ‘a culmination of irregularities, misconduct and mismanagement’.
“There are five core aspects that we are going to probe that focuses on sackings and dismissals, employment and operational procedures, restructuring, Bahrainisation and scrutinising books.”
He added that the probe’s scope wasn’t limited and that it could be broadened following feedback from other MPs.
“We need to act fast because the problems faced by Gulf Air employees require immediate attention,” he said.
Mr Al Zayani said earlier this month that the national cadres working in all firms under the holding company’s umbrella remained a matter of pride and their efforts continued to be appreciated.
He said the workforce’s ‘outstanding contributions’ had strengthened the company’s position, in accordance with the goals and visions of the group.
Gulf Air had earlier asserted that investing in human capital was always its top priority.
Development plans continue to raise Bahrainisation rates and open opportunities for training and promotion to allow locals to assume leadership positions in the group, the company had said.
Gulf Air noted that 169 Bahrainis had joined the companies affiliated with the group since the beginning of this year.
It also explained that as part of its strategy to integrate the group’s assets, the operations structure had been revamped and some departments merged in all the companies under it – namely Gulf Air, Bahrain Airport Company and the Gulf Aviation Academy – in implementation of plans aimed at enhancing efficiency and development.
The group affirmed that the restructuring process followed a careful and extensive study during which operations were re-engineered and services of some support departments cancelled.
This was being implemented in full compliance with the labour law in force in Bahrain, which obligated the company to compensate any employees whose jobs were cancelled and pay their dues in accordance with the regulations and laws, it pointed out.
Former MPs had last year formed a probe with findings being discussed publicly as the government pledged to study and investigate all shortcomings. They had approved 14 recommendations following allegations of money being squandered and misappropriated, double standards, unfair dismissals, an unhealthy working environment and low Bahrainisation in several sectors.
According to statistics provided to them, Gulf Air had suffered losses amounting to BD77 million in 2021, BD91.9m in 2020 and BD38m in 2019. The airline’s worst-ever loss was, however, in 2012 when it reached an unprecedented BD200m.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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