About 120 expatriate workers employed by Qatari Gulf Steel Factories have gone on strike protesting against the non-payment of wages, reported the Gulf Times on Tuesday.
The laborers, comprising Sri Lankans, Bangladeshis, Indians and Egyptians, told the daily that some of them were owed 14 months’ wages.
“Instead of paying us the full wages, the management only gave us small amounts such as QR50 or QR100 from time to time, just to keep our mess running,” complained one of the strikers. The average salary is QR600, while accommodation has been provided in the unit’s premises itself. The workers pool money to run the kitchen, said the report.
Three days ago the laborers decided to protest by going on strike. “Subsequently, we approached the Labor Department, after which the management promised to pay the wage arrears immediately,” said a worker. However, only about two thirds of the workforce received some money and the rest were left in the lurch, another laborer alleged.
When the industrial unit’s office was contacted by Gulf Times, an official confirmed that the workers had indeed “struck work." But he refused to make any further comment. The unit’s manager could not be contacted despite repeated attempts, said the paper, adding that the workers are thinking of approaching the Labor Department again as the management had not paid all the arrears – Albawaba.com
