Ex-employees in Bahrain made redundant and not paid ‘promised payout’

TDT | Manama                                             

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Reported by Julia Cassano    

For many people, migrating to a different country in the hope of a prosperous life and career is a want. In a sorrowful admission, three people here relayed to The Daily Tribune, that they are owed a hefty amount of money after being made redundant from a big company in Bahrain causing them financial distress.

“We were promised the world,” they told The Daily Tribune. One of them (names withheld) said he was paid a monthly salary; however, started to see ‘red flags’ when in December 2021, all staff was paid 15 days late.

The second victim relayed the “red flags” he noticed, saying: “I noticed various red flags; however, I felt comforted as the company held a strong backing since 2020. Despite the hopeful thoughts I used to ease my mind, the backing of the company had started to become a big question mark as the months went on.”

He claims he was offered the job by a friend who had joined the company and became excited about the future after successfully receiving the job. However, quickly, employees at the company noticed that everything was not as it seemed.

“After joining in March 2022, I had only received a couple of paychecks, and I have not been paid since August 2022. They owe me the payroll from September to January along with the final settlement that has not been paid.”

The first victim noted that after the first late paid salary, all salaries following were also paid late. “This is where I started noticing the worrying signs that something wasn’t right, and shortly after from September 2022, the company stopped paying our salaries fully.”

Luckily, the first victim in this story said that he had already left the country, as he was worried about what was to come, signing a final settlement slip by the CEO, assuring him he will be paid the sum of money he is owed by the company. However, this sum of money has not been paid yet. Another person spoke to The Daily Tribune, a third victim, accounting for his stressful experience in all of this and relaying his desperate wishes to get the money he was promised back so he could leave the country.

“The last time I received my full salary was at the end of September 2022. Around the end of November, I received a partial salary for the month.” Although many were hopeful that these issues were temporary, and they would receive their full salaries soon, they were met with more concerning news.

“I was called for a group meeting where the company explained to us that they are going to retrench us as soon as they receive approval from the LMRA,” explained one of the victims.

“In December, I received my notice and the week after, I went for my exit interview where I received some documents, including my final settlement letter, where they stated my last working day, and I would be paid the full amount owed by them.”

Despite the false promises they were told, after being made redundant, no money has been paid to them since the victim’s claim.

“There have been multiple times we have pleaded with the company to pay our hard-earned money; however, these honest demands fall on deaf ears.” Not only have the victims not received their money; however, many were trapped in Bahrain, not containing the funds to leave, hence no payout was given, they allege.

“There have been numerous times where I have demanded my money, and many times, I do not even receive a response. I even asked the company to book me a flight back to my home country where I can begin my life again,” the second victim claimed.

“Thankfully, I was able to send my family back to our home country, but I have been battling to survive here on my own,” he said. “I have not been able to find work here or in my home country, and I stayed here as I was hoping to one day receive my money back.”

The second victim who came forth to The Daily Tribune relayed that many are living off their savings from their previous job. “I am living off of my savings, only spending money on basic necessities to get by,” he said. Unfortunately, he faced further disparity as he has not been able to find a job after being made redundant, only receiving one interview in the past three months.

“I am also owed a large sum of money, and have not received any of it after I left the company.” The Daily Tribune tried contacting the unnamed company; however, they did not want to comment on the story. The victims allege there are approximately 30 employees affected, as they claim the company had rid of around 75 percent of the workforce. The ex-employees are still waiting to receive their promised money; however, their requests have not been granted.