At least 16 Bahraini companies or government ministries have fired hundreds of mostly Shiite workers during the past week. Employees speak of being dismissed despite being on pre-approved leave or having received approval to stay home due to the unrest...When contacted for comment, Alba [Aluminium Bahrain, company which had fired several employees] released a written statement from last week saying that 85 percent of its employees attended work during the strike period, but that “employees who have infringed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s Labor Law as well as Alba’s HR policies by not reporting, or committing other offenses against the company, will have to face disciplinary actions accordingly.”...And while companies appear to be trying to justify most firings by the absenteeism, Bahrain Islamic Bank employee Mohamed Al Hamad said his dismissal had nothing to do with being absent. His manager told him explicitly that he had been fired for participating in the protests...At Bahrain Telecommunications Company, or Batelco, meanwhile, employees say many of those fired were on pre-approved leave during or before the crisis, and they say the company has now called the leaves unexplained absences...Batelco has fired at least 85 employees, according to a company spokesman's statement to the newspaper Al Wasat. Bahrain's government holds a majority stake of shares in Batelco, like Alba and many of the other companies that fired workers. Batelco did not return calls requesting comment. [also refers to Bahrain Islamic Bank, Gulf Air]