National Institution for Human Rights – Kingdom of Bahrain 4. Within the framework of international instruments, the right to work was addressed by Articles 6.7, and 8 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, which was acceded to the by Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain under Law No. 10 of 2007. These articles indicate that the States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the individual right to work, which he freely chooses or accepts. Everyone has the right to the enjoyment of fair wages and equal remuneration for work of equal value without distinction of any kind, granting women conditions of work not inferior to those enjoyed by men, with equal pay for equal work. Workers should also be granted the right to rest, leisure reasonable limitation of working hours, periodic holidays with pay, as well as remuneration for public holidays, and safe and healthy working conditions” 5. Perhaps the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain accession to the ILO under Decree No. 9 of 1977 had prompted it to join a number of conventions related to the right to work totaling ten conventions. The Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain, under Decree No. 5 of 1981, acceded to ILO Conventions No. 14 of 1921 on the Application of Weekly Rest; No. 29 of 1930 Concerning Forced or Compulsory Labor; and No. 81 of 1947 on Labor Inspection in Industry and Commerce; and No. 89 of 1948 concerning Night Work of Women Employed in Industry. This was followed by ratification of or accession to a series of conventions, such as the Convention No. 105 of 1957 concerning Abolition of Forced Labor, under Decree No. 7 of 1998, followed by accession to the Convention No. 159 of 1983 on Private Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) under Decree-Law No. 17 of 1999. In addition, the Government ratified Convention No. 111 of 1985 concerning Discrimination in Employment and Occupation, under Decree No. 11 of 2000. Under Decree-Law No. 12 of 2001, the Government acceded to the Convention No. 182 of 1999 concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor, and Convention No. 155 of 1981 on Occupational Safety and Health and the Working Environment under Law No. 25 of 2009. The last convention which was acceded to by the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain was Convention No. 138 of 1973 on the Minimum Age for Employment, under Law No. 1 of 2012. The ratification of or accession of the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the aforementioned ILO conventions constitute a commitment with the international standards related to the right to work. 6. The right to decent work has two dimensions: individual and collective. The individual dimension is the individual’s right to decide freely to accept or choose any work of its choice, without being forced in any way to exercise or engage in any other work, in accordance with fair and satisfactory conditions of work, in addition to the enjoyment of working conditions that ensure his safety. The collective dimension of the right to work is the right of workers to form and join trade unions voluntarily, as well as the right of those trade unions to function freely and independently fully as regulated by law. 7. The principle of equality and non-discrimination applies to the right to work similar to the other rights and freedoms. International human rights conventions and instruments prohibit any discrimination in access to or maintaining employment because of race, color, sex, language, religion, political opinion, national or social origin, property, parentage, physical or mental disability, health condition, or civil, political, social or other status, which is intended to undermine or prevent the individual’s right to work on the basis of equality and non-discrimination. ILO Convention No. 111 of 1985 on Discrimination in respect of Employment and Occupation, which has been ratified by the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain under Decree No. 11 of 2000, indicates the same meaning. Article 2 of the Convention provides that the members undertake to “declare and pursue a national policy 81