A group of workers of a contracting firm, who have not been paid their salaries for several months, have sought assistance from the labour authorities for their dues as well as to facilitate repatriation.
While the Indian workers of the company have sought the intervention of their embassy, some of their Sri Lankan colleagues who are also out of work for a couple of months too are planning to meet their embassy officials.
The contracting firm, which had its office earlier at Muaither has now shifted its office to Najma area. It is understood that the company which had some construction activities earlier, hardly has any work these days.
Some of the workers complained that the company has not stamped their visas even four and five months after their arrival in the country.
The Indian workers also met the representatives of the Indian help desk at the National Human Rights Committee Office yesterday, following which the latter discussed the matter with the officials and decided to hasten the efforts for repatriation.
On learning the predicament of the aggrieved workers, the Indian embassy yesterday extended financial assistance to every member of the group and also supplied them essential foodstuffs for 10 days through the Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF).
“In case the whole issue is not sorted out immediately by their employer, ICBF would make arrangements for their repatriation and provide tickets,” an official said.
It is also learnt that the employer has been told to meet Indian embassy officials this afternoon. Ironically, the issue has come up at a time when the Labour Ministry is hastening its efforts to introduce the Wage Protection System to ensure regular salary payments to workers.
