Colleague’s death puts workers on tenterhooks

DT News Network

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Manama--

Over a dozen employees of a cleaning and maintenance company in Riffa approached the Indian embassy yesterday following the death of one of their colleagues. The Indian worker died after his foreman and employer allegedly chased and attacked him last Friday.

The employees alleged, they were no longer feeling safe to work under current employer. 

An employee who witnessed the death of his colleague said, “The deceased was brutally beaten up by a Yemeni foreman and his employer for taking an extra fruit from the rack. Later, they forced him to sign a blank paper and subsequently tried to deport him after buying a flight ticket for him.” 

However, the immigration officials reportedly sent him back and the assault took place when he was returning. 

Upon reaching the company office near Abdulla Centre in Riffa, he was again subjected to torture, according to witnesses. 

“He ran away as he was unable to bear the torture, but the foreman and the employer chased him. Finally, a vehicle hit him on the road”, the witness narrated.

The labour accommodation is also reportedly bad as 16 employees have to share one kerosene stove to cook the food. Also, the foreman and the employer regularly beat the employees, the employees alleged. 

All the employees approached the Deputy Chief Mission of Indian Embassy, Ram Singh, seeking assistance to fly back home, as they no longer wished to work for the current employer.

Speaking to DT News, Ram Singh said the employer had agreed to handover the passports of the employees to the embassy. Meanwhile, steps would be taken to send the body of the deceased to his hometown in India, he added.