TWO more cases of non-payment of wages at companies in Bahrain are being investigated, it has emerged.
In one case, at least 600 expatriate employees at a construction company downed their tools last week, claiming they had not been paid for four months.
The Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi employees of the Bahraini company have not been to work since last Sunday.
In the second case, 15 men working for a civil engineering and construction company’s portable buildings unit claimed they had not been paid for the past eight months.
In both the cases the employees said they had not officially registered complaints with labour officials “out of fear”.
However, Labour and Social Development Ministry’s labour affairs assistant under-secretary Ahmed Al Haiki reassured the workers but pointed out that authorities could not help them without being informed.
“Now that we know of the case, we will be investigating them ourselves,” he told the GDN.
“Employees should report salary delays to the ministry at the earliest – preferably within a month – so that effective action can be taken.
“The longer the delay, the more difficult it becomes.
“The ministry blacklists companies that don’t pay their workers on time, which means such employers can neither hire other employees or conduct business.
“But this action is not helping the worker get his pay, and the issue goes to court, especially if the employer says he has no money.
“This is where early reporting helps. If the amount to be settled is low, we can reach a mutual understanding, restructure the payment and move forward, both by securing the business and the employees’ jobs.”
The GDN reported last week a four-star hotel in Manama has been blacklisted after it reportedly failed to pay around 20 expatriate staff for more than eight months.
In 2017, four major firms – two construction companies, a hospital and a heavy equipment supplier – were blacklisted over non-payment of wages.
Mr Al Haiki said 90 per cent of the cases of salary disputes which reached the ministry were resolved successfully.
“Very often we do not get the complaints from workers until four to five months later but we initiate action even when we come to know of the cases through the media or other sources.
“Aggrieved workers have two options – they can either approach the court directly or report the matter to us.”
But he said most of the time the employees say they do not complain because of the personal and good relationship with their employers.
“They don’t have to fear, because the government will not tolerate any violation of the law, especially concerning non-payment of wages.”
A worker at the first company’s Sitra labour camp told the GDN that the workers have been surviving on two meals a day, provided by a cold store nearby and social workers. “Around 600 of us have not received our salaries since October; the management keeps telling us that we will get today or tomorrow,” he said.
Violation
“The company has not renewed our visas and we are scared to report the matter as we fear we will be arrested, as has happened in some cases.”
The men have been engaged in major ongoing projects including Bapco refinery, Bapco Club, Awali Hospital staff quarters, military projects in Safra and Coastguard projects in Muharraq.
Their monthly salary ranges from BD90 to BD150.
Meanwhile, the men from the second company refused to speak to the GDN.
“According to the men, the company paid only BD5 and overnight repatriated workers who had reported the case,” said an Indian social worker who referred the matter to the Indian Embassy.
The company’s representatives could not be reached for a comment.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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