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AN engineer, whose former employer failed to pay him his due for months on end, has been granted more than BD19,000 in wages and end-of-service benefits by the Labour Court.
Represented by lawyer Bushra Mayoof, the expat, whose nationality was not disclosed, filed a case against the Hafeera-based concrete supplier, demanding almost five months’ worth of wages.
According to court documents, the man asked for delayed wages for May 1 to September 16, 2024 – BD7,707 – in addition to an annual leave allowance worth BD3,236 and an end-of-service allowance amounting to BD13,200.
He also demanded travel tickets for himself and his family or their equivalent in cash, an end-of-service certificate and for the defendant to pay their legal fees.
In 2015, the man joined the company as a civil engineer under an open-ended employment contract with a monthly salary of BD1,250.
He worked for the company for nine years, and his salary was raised to BD1,650 in recognition of his dedication to work.
After the defendant failed to pay his salary, the plaintiff submitted his resignation, with his last official working day being September 16, 2024. He was denied his dues, which led him to file the lawsuit.
The two parties reportedly attempted to settle the case amicably prior to going to court, but failed to reach a resolution.
The plaintiff submitted relevant documents such as his CPR, residence permit, job offer letter and his former employer’s CR when he filed the complaint.
During the first hearing in November last year, Ms Mayoof submitted a memorandum to the judges listing her client’s demands, while the defendant’s lawyer submitted a request to dismiss the case.
The defendant stated that they would approve the plaintiff’s end-of-service gratuity, annual leave allowance, but rejected travel tickets for him and his family.
On November 11, the Labour Marker Regulatory Authority submitted documents stating that the plaintiff had a work visa issued for the period from June 26, 2015 to October 15, 2024 under the defendant’s CR.
During the hearing on December 24, which the plaintiff could not attend, the defendant issued another memorandum asking the case to be dismissed, but to no avail.
After deliberating over the case, the judges came to a decision on January 30, ruling in the favour of the plaintiff.
The defendant has been ordered to pay the plaintiff BD7,480 in deferred wages, BD1,952 as annual leave allowance and BD9,396 as an end-of-service bonus. Additionally, the defendant has also been ordered to pay interest on missed payments, bumping up the total to more than BD19,000.
He also has to pay for the return tickets to the plaintiff’s country of origin for him and his family, with the cost not exceeding BD500.
The court also stated that the defendant has to give the plaintiff an end-of-service certificate, in addition to covering his legal fee and other appropriate expenses.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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