Arrears to be paid soon

Manama : An agreement has been reached to pay the pending salaries of a construction company workers in Bahrain soon, said Labour and Social Development Minister, Jameel Humaidan, yesterday. 

The move follows the directives of Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa to clear the workers’ salary arrears immediately. 

“Following HRH Premier’s directives, the Labour and Social Development Ministry intensified its efforts and coordinated with the relevant parties to end the problem,” the minister said, explaining that an agreement has been reached with the construction company to pay the workers’ salary arrears within days. 

The minister also revealed that immediate cash payments were made to the workers, ahead of their arrears payment, as agreed by the company. 

The issue received public attention when close to hundred workers marched on the Estiqlal Highway recently in Sanad to the Ministry of Labour and Social Development demanding to release their pending salaries for up to five months. Labour Ministry Assistant Undersecretary for Labour Affairs, Dr Mohammed Ali Al Ansari, at that time told DT News that the ministry would resolve the issue in a few days time. 

The General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU), one of the top labour unions in Bahrain also strongly criticising the company for not complying with the cabinet directives to settle the workers’ pending salaries. The employees from the same company also protested in March over the same issue.