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Workers approach ministry for help

The protesting workers belonging to different nationalities, including Asians and Arabs have tried hard during the past month to cordially settle their dispute with their employer, but all their efforts went in vain.

They had earlier come to the ministry to complain against their employer. The ministry asked them to try to settle the issue amicably with the company. The company asked to grant period of two weeks to resolve the problem and pay back the labourers their due wages.

After the grace period was over, the company asked for another two weeks but, once again it failed to pay the labourers and tried to take more time from them. The firm's lingering of the issue led to the frustration among the employees and prompted them to present an official complaint against the employer.

The ministry summoned the employer to investigate the case and find a settlement to it.

The employer pledged to pay the labourers their due wages within a short period of time, but unfortunately he did not fulfill his promise and the labourers are now in trouble.

Khaleej Times yesterday spoke to some of the labourers, who insisted on suing the employer for their plight for the past seven months.

Soor Dioum, a Filipino said: "We had refused the demand of the employer to wait for another period. My colleagues and I have requested the ministry that we want the issue to be settled soon. We are fed up with waiting too long to get our salaries".

Hamedo Al Sayed, another labourer expressed his resentment for the company's failure to provide them with services that they are entitled to. "The company has stopped providing us with health services while the meals it used to offer were not sufficient."

Another labourer who declined to mention his name said he had not been able to send money to his family back home for six months, neither had he been able to buy medicines for his diabetic son.

According to an official at the ministry, companies which fail to pay workers their wages, would be liable for revoking of their licences.

Any company, which has not been able to fulfill its obligations towards its employees and pay them their dues, would be subject to suspension of its licence, said the official.

He disclosed that the ministerial order no 156 of 2003 issued by the ministry on the protection of workers, would guarantee the rights of workers in getting their due wages on time.

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