Complaint lodged against company for not paying salaries

Manama : A local human rights group has lodged a complaint against a private construction company which has failed to pay salaries to its workers for several months. 

The employees of G.P Zachariades Overseas Limited have been allegedly in trouble for the past few months, due to a financial crisis.

Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society (BHRWS) confirmed in a statement issued on Saturday that the matter has been taken to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), “BHRWS submitted an urgent complaint to ILO against the Cypriot company for not paying its employees for almost four months.”

BHRWS explained that “the employees are enduring tough conditions, as they’re unable to support themselves or their families, especially during the Holy Month of Ramadan, when life expenses increase”.

The society, without mentioning the number of the affected workers, confirmed that they are from Asian countries. 

“Migrant Workers Protection Society has been supporting the workers and providing them with meals for the past period. Unfortunately, the society stopped as they lack financial support to help the labourers,” the society added while demanding Labour and Social Development Ministry to interfere and seize all of the company’s assets and belongings until the workers’ rights are settled.

G.P Zachariades Overseas Limited has been operating in Bahrain for the past three decades. DT News had reported in January that an Indian labourer of the company died of heart attack while protesting along with hundreds of his unpaid colleagues who were demanding their salaries.

A representative from the company told DT News back then that the company is arranging the payments and travelling fees of the workers. Yet, the issue seems to remain.