Bahrain Court Orders Fitness Centre to Pay Trainer BD 2,000 in Unpaid Wages with 2-year Interest

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Manama: The Second High Labour Court has ordered a fitness centre to pay a Bahraini fitness trainer BD 2,000 in outstanding wages, along with interest for delayed payment and all court costs and legal fees.

The court ruled that the centre must pay interest at a rate of 6% per annum on wages delayed for up to six months, with the rate increasing by 1% for each additional month of delay, capped at a maximum of 12% annually, until full payment is made.

According to the trainer’s lawyer, Alaa Adel, the plaintiff was employed by the fitness centre at a rate of BD 5 per training hour and carried out her duties regularly throughout her employment. However, the centre failed to pay her wages for nearly two years, resulting in accumulated dues of BD 2,000.

Despite sending a formal notice demanding payment and granting the employer a grace period, the trainer received no settlement, prompting her to resign due to continued non-payment. She subsequently filed a lawsuit citing Article 40 (b)(4) of the Labour Law, which requires employers to pay all outstanding wages immediately upon termination of employment, or within seven days in cases of voluntary resignation.

In its ruling, the court confirmed that a valid employment relationship existed and that it ended without the trainer receiving her full wages. Evidence presented included communications between the parties and bank statements showing partial salary payments. The defendant failed to prove that the outstanding wages had been paid.

The court concluded that the delay caused financial harm to the plaintiff due to her inability to benefit from her earnings, and ordered compensation through interest in addition to full payment of the unpaid wages.