The General Federation of Workers Trade Unions in Bahrain(Formerly known as the General Committee for Bahrain Workers) (Arabic: الاتحاد العام لنقابات عمال البحرين) (GFWTUB) is a national trade union federation in Bahrain. It was established in 2002, by the Workers Trade Union Law granting workers the right to organize collectively. The General Federation of Workers Trade Unions in Bahrain represents 80 unions and 25,000 members. To date, there have been 57 trade unions in Bahrain, of which 6 are in the public sector. It is an affiliate of both the International Trade Union Confederation and the International Confederation of Arab Trade Unions. History The establishment of the Federation was part of a number of key labour reforms introduced under the Minister of Labour, Majeed Al Alawi. The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions' Annual Survey 2005 highlighted: "Bahrain, a bright spot in an otherwise dismal landscape of persistent labour rights violations in the Middle East". According to the ICFTU: Bahrain has set the standard for the Gulf region in terms of positive developments. The right to form trade unions has existed since 2002, although only one national trade union centre is recognised, and other rights are still limited. The General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions held its founding congress in January 2004 and in December became the first organisation in the Gulf States to become a member of the ICFTU. It has been actively involved in tripartite discussions, including on labour legislation. In October 2006, King Hamad signed a law banning the sacking of employees engaged in trade union activities. Under an amended law, the courts must reinstate a sacked worker and award them compensation if it is proved that they were sanctioned for such activities. The King's move followed criticism by the ICTFU of the sacking in July 2005 of Gulf Air's trade union head shortly after his election. In 2012, the General Secretary of the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU), Said S. Salman Jaddar Al Mahfoodh, received the 2012 George Meany-Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award on behalf of their respective labor movements. He released the following statement: “This award does not only belong to the GBFTU, but first and foremost, it belongs to the more than 4,000 Bahraini workers and unionists who have been suffering from unjust firings and the consequences of expressing their opinions. It also belongs to the Bahraini people, who are still struggling