A HOTEL pay dispute that has allegedly dragged on for months prompted a strike by staff yesterday.
Around 80 employees of Gulf Pearl Hotel stopped work in protest against alleged non-payment.
One employee claimed they were owed salaries dating back nine months.
Cashier Rafiqul Islam said they were owed five months’ pay by previous operator Mashtan Hotel Management, as well as four months by the current operator Gulf Diwaniya Hotel.
However, he added staff had not yet lodged a formal complaint with the Labour and Social Development Ministry.
“We have nine months’ salary pending,” he told the GDN.
Another employee, Mohammed Mainuddin, said staff were struggling to make ends meet.
“If we don’t have a salary for nine months how will we survive?” he asked.
“We came here to make some money and send it to our family. We can survive for one month, but not nine months.”
A Gulf Diwaniya Hotel representative, who declined to be identified, told the GDN that it expected to settle its outstanding payments by the weekend.
“Business was down during those months and we could not pay them at the time, but we will have everything settled today,” he said.
“I can’t say what will happen about the amount due from Mashtan, but that has nothing to do with us.”
Mashtan Hotel Management could not be reached for comment.
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