AUTHORITIES have renewed their pledge to resolve a pay row affecting around 50 expatriate employees of a construction firm.
This follows a new appeal by a migrants’ welfare society to help the employees of G P Zachariades (GPZ) Civil Engineering and Contractors.
The group of engineers, security guards and labourers have reportedly been illegal for the past two years.
The company has been at the centre of a major pay row since 2017, with hundreds of employees ranging from senior management to labourers claiming non-payment.
The company has repeatedly blamed late salaries on delays in receiving payment for work it has carried out.
In the past it has received funds owed by the government which was used to pay the employees, in co-ordination with the Labour and Social Development Ministry.
However, the 50 men from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal claim they are being helped by civil societies and social organisations.
Labour and Social Development Ministry Under-Secretary Sabah Al Doseri yesterday told the GDN that the ministry was keen to resolve the issue within a week.
“These are men who opted to stay back to get their full dues,” he said.
He clarified that no official complaint has been registered with the ministry.
“But we spoke to the company’s representatives who said they were waiting for money from some firms.
“We have asked them to submit a list of the firms and we will talk to them.
“We are keen to resolve the issue by the end of the week; we are sure to have positive news before the weekend.”
The men at the Budaiya labour camp told the GDN they had visited the Labour Ministry in Zayed Town, filled up a form and were awaiting a call.
“We have also reported the matter to our embassies.”
The men stopped working eight months ago and apparently the company had been paying them BD10 or BD20 monthly until last month.
Migrant Workers Protection Society labour safety and welfare committee head Zuhair Katib told the GDN the society was supporting them as much as it could.
“We provided them with ration and we are taking them for medical check-up on Friday,” he said.
Meanwhile, labour affairs assistant under-secretary Ahmed Al Hayki told the GDN the claims of non-payment were not true, stating that the “men did receive some payment in the past”.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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