Butchers wind up biz, exit

Butchers in Bahrain are apparently leaving the country as the meat business has come to an almost standstill due to the removal of subsidy, DT has learnt. Many meat shops have closed down after people stopped buying pricey meat.

Abattoirs went on strike for the past weeks because of low business. Many butchers are on the brink of losing their jobs while many have returned to their countries after working in Bahraini meat markets for decades. The meat sellers outside meat markets are the most affected, according to sources. 

"The meat sellers outside the meat markets are affected because they pay high rents. They can no longer afford to pay the rents, which are usually BD 200 or higher. The businesses inside the meat market have significantly lower rents. So they can wait patiently. Many meat shops have already closed down, many butchers have left the country," the source informed. 

Ahmed, a butcher who used to work in a slaughterhouse in Manama said, "I have decided to leave my job after my employer informed that he wasn’t able to pay my salary due to financial issues. I am going back to India,” he said, expressing doubt of being able to find another job here.

Another butcher, Mohammed Jaffar, remarked: "I am very worried about my job. We could get fired at any time as our employer is not in a good position at all.”

"There are various expenses an employer needs to worry about such as rent, salaries, purchasing costs, transportation etc. Without having any revenue it would be impossible to meet those expenses, that is why more shops are closing down," another meat shop worker Shanavas said.