Construction workers on strike for better pay
Over 1,120 Asian workers including Indians, employed by a construction conglomerate, have halted work demanding better wages.
By PTI |
DUBAI: Over 1,120 Asian workers including Indians, employed by a construction conglomerate, have halted work demanding better wages.
Staff at the Haji Hassan Group, based at two labour camps in Salmabad, went on a strike yesterday and refused to resume duties until their demand was met, making the company the 11th to suffer from industrial unrest in five weeks.
The strike is being led by the workers' trade union representative Abdulla Mirza, who said no one would return to work until their demands were met.
"We are demanding that our salaries be revised and until then we will not resume duty. There are nearly 1,300 of us and all are on strike, both Bahrainis and expatriates. "Of this, nearly 180 are Bahrainis but I represent both the groups," Mirza was quoted as saying in Gulf Daily News.
Mirza claimed that expatriates, who do unskilled and semi-skilled jobs receive a basic salary ranging from $132 to $184. The Bahraini staff, working as drivers and salesmen, receive $527 and other allowances.
"Our demand is very simple. The salaries of the Bahrainis should be raised by 2.5 per cent every year starting from this year and the expatriate workers' salaries by $66," said Mirza.
Mirza said trade union representatives held a meeting with company officials at around 11 am yesterday, but failed to reach an agreement.
Meanwhile, a four-day strike by over 700 workers at a Bahrain contracting company ended yesterday after management agreed to increase their salaries.
Employees at the Olympic Contracting Company camps at Salmabad and Arad downed tools on Tuesday demanding better pay. Officials allegedly offered staff a USD 26 food allowance on Friday in a bid to encourage them to end the strike, which they rejected.
Staff at the Haji Hassan Group, based at two labour camps in Salmabad, went on a strike yesterday and refused to resume duties until their demand was met, making the company the 11th to suffer from industrial unrest in five weeks.
The strike is being led by the workers' trade union representative Abdulla Mirza, who said no one would return to work until their demands were met.
"We are demanding that our salaries be revised and until then we will not resume duty. There are nearly 1,300 of us and all are on strike, both Bahrainis and expatriates. "Of this, nearly 180 are Bahrainis but I represent both the groups," Mirza was quoted as saying in Gulf Daily News.
Mirza claimed that expatriates, who do unskilled and semi-skilled jobs receive a basic salary ranging from $132 to $184. The Bahraini staff, working as drivers and salesmen, receive $527 and other allowances.
"Our demand is very simple. The salaries of the Bahrainis should be raised by 2.5 per cent every year starting from this year and the expatriate workers' salaries by $66," said Mirza.
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Mirza said trade union representatives held a meeting with company officials at around 11 am yesterday, but failed to reach an agreement.
Meanwhile, a four-day strike by over 700 workers at a Bahrain contracting company ended yesterday after management agreed to increase their salaries.
Employees at the Olympic Contracting Company camps at Salmabad and Arad downed tools on Tuesday demanding better pay. Officials allegedly offered staff a USD 26 food allowance on Friday in a bid to encourage them to end the strike, which they rejected.
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