Ministry intervenes to end unpaid labourers’ ordeal

TDT| Manama

The Labour and Social Development Ministry has confirmed that it had intervened to help solve a labour issue, in which a local contracting company was allegedly unable to pay the salaries of labourers for more than six months. The Ministry’s announcement came in response to several video clips showing at least 100 labourers marching near Deraz village in the Northern Governorate.

The videos were widely circulated on social media networks over the weekend. One of the labourers was seen talking in one of the videos, claiming that they were not paid their salaries for over six months. Replying to the questions of the person behind the camera about the reason why they were demonstrating under the scorching sun, the labourer said: “No salary for six to seven months.

We have problems too because of corona. The office is closed. We are on a strike for three days now. We are now marching to the police station to see what is the arrangement.” For its part, the Ministry said in a statement that it has intervened and solved the issue between the employer and the labourers.

The statement mentioned: “Commenting on what has been circulated on some social media sites on a recorded video of a number of labourers who are demanding payment of their late wages, the Ministry would like to clarify that it had previously contacted the company and a three-side meeting was held in the presence of the representatives of the labourers.

A consensus has been reached to pay the late salaries to the labourers.” The Ministry confirmed that one month’s salary has been paid, while the remaining amounts will be released within the coming weeks. It also stated that it is following up on the disbursal of the receivables and the process of depositing it into the labourers’ bank accounts.

The Ministry stressed in its statement on the importance of preserving the rights of all workers, and the responsibility of all companies and employers towards paying wages on time, as they are an essential right that cannot be tolerated.

“The Labour and Social Development Ministry stresses the importance of social dialogue and collective negotiations to be present in such cases because of its positive results in maintaining the course of work and supporting production in the company, in addition to strengthening the relations between workers and employers in the interest of both parties,” the Ministry said in its statement.