AN expatriate employee of a company in the centre of a wages row has decided to stay back and wait for his BD20,000 dues – while six others have given up hope and are returning home.
Syed Mustkim Ahmad, 50, is among the last seven employees at the G P Zachariades (GPZ) Civil Engineering and Contractors – a company which has been embroiled in a major pay dispute since 2017.
Hundreds of employees have left the country over the last four years. However, 20 men continued to live in hope in a building in Saar – until last week when 11 packed their bags and went back home, allegedly without receiving their dues. Two found other jobs.
Four Indians and three Bangladeshis now remain – and all except Mr Ahmad are set to leave today after being offered BD100 and an air ticket.
Mr Ahmad, from Bihar, India, who had been working as a land surveyor at the company for 20 years, is optimistic and said he would wait for a couple of months more.
“I cannot let go the amount that is due to me – it is my hard work of 20 years,” Mr Ahmad told the GDN.
“I have been supporting my family with my savings and I have no money left – what will I do if I go back home?”
The man has two daughters, aged 17 and 11, wife and an ailing mother depending on him.
“I repose my trust on Bahrain’s authorities, I hope they will have mercy on me,” he said.
According to Mr Ahmad, the company owes him BD21,741.
He claimed that his colleagues were also owed similar amounts and were only paid BD20 a month by a company representative since May 2019 for their survival.
GPZ had ceased operations in the country almost two years ago and its representative could not be reached for comment yesterday.
The GDN in November last year reported that labour officials had pledged to resolve the dispute and ensure wages for 52 employees.
GPZ has repeatedly blamed late salaries on delays in receiving payment for government projects it had carried out.
Mr Ahmad said 32 men got their settlements and dues when the Labour (and Social Development) Ministry received funds close to BD130,000 last year. It was credited into the escrow account managed by GPZ and the Labour (and Social Development) Ministry, as reported earlier.
“The amount was enough to give us all half of our dues, but 32 employees were paid and they left in August,” said Mr Ahmad.
“Labour officials had then promised one month’s pay within 15 days ... it has been eight months and we haven’t received any dues till date.
“I have to live on charity, but I will wait as I don’t have any other option.
“I do wish to look for another job or take a flexi permit, but two of my colleagues who did so were shocked as their names were immediately removed from the (dues) list.”
Bangladeshi national Jassimuddin Ayathulla, 50, is among six others who are due to return today. The mechanical supervisor, who worked for 20 years, said the company owed him BD7,120.
Meanwhile, 17 employees who left earlier have given a power of attorney to the Migrant Workers’ Protection Society (MWPS) to fight their cause.
The society was supporting the men – who were earlier accommodated in a Budaiya camp – with food and medicine, while liaising with the authorities.
“It is sad to see these workers living on hopes for 18 months and then leave empty handed,” said MWPS vice chairwoman Hana Buhejji.
“Some of them worked for more than three decades and reached the age where they just wanted to enjoy the rest of their lives in dignity with the savings they managed all these years. It’s heartbreaking.”
The GDN reported in 2018 that GPZ was being monitored by the International Labour Organisation over its repeated failure to pay its staff.
“I request the government to look into paying what GPZ claims are its dues from government projects. It could be deposited in the joint account with the Labour Ministry, so that we can send the dues of 18 workers who recently left,” she said.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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