Around 60 expatriate labourers who have not been paid for months have renewed their desperate pleas for help, while struggling without water or electricity in their accommodation for more than 25 days.
The construction workers from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh have been left in the lurch after labour officials referred them to civil court yesterday to find a solution to their problems.
The GDN reported last month that the men had visited the Labour Ministry complex in Zayed Town on October 18, when officials assured them of a ‘feasible solution’ including the reconnection of power to their living and sleeping quarters.
“We went to the ministry on October 18 and we were promised at least three months’ pay by October 25,” said an Indian worker who was among the group that approached the ministry for help yesterday.
“They assured that power and water would be restored within a week, but nothing has happened. So we went back to the ministry today, but they said there was nothing they could do and asked us to go back to the civil court.
“We are struggling for food and water, and our living conditions are deplorable, we are surviving on the generosity of social organisations and volunteers. How do we pay for a lawyer?
“We’ve given up hope.”
Labour Ministry assistant under-secretary Ahmed Al Hayki had earlier said that the employer was involved in legal wrangles, but the court has agreed to release funds for salaries, and the men will receive three months’ pay within a week. He also said that a labour inspector would visit the camp and ensure power restoration.
The men, mostly long-term employees of the company established in 1960, said they did not start complaining about non-payment of wages until earlier this month because they were hopeful that the financial issues faced by the business would be resolved.
“Our families back home are struggling and our children are starving,” a Bangladeshi employee said.
“We don’t want food because we cannot eat when our children are not eating, we want our money and to return.”
The drivers, carpenters, plumbers and other tradesmen as well as labourers, aged 38 to 56, earning monthly salaries ranging from BD80 to BD110, have expressed their concerns to their embassies in the country, the Labour Market Regulatory Authority, and the Budaiya police station.
Another Indian said the dry ration they receive from social workers was of no help as they cannot cook without electricity or gas.
“This is exhausting, the weather has improved, so the heat is bearable, but the issue is more than that. We desperately need a solution, we want someone to hear us and help us,” he said.
A Bahraini company representative previously claimed that recent challenges, such as not being informed in advance that the power would be turned off, were the result of a legal battle and government agency miscommunication. She also stated that a court order was required to unfreeze the company accounts so that payments could be made.
However, she could not be reached for comments yesterday.
Labour Ministry officials were also unavailable for comments.
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