Qatar detains workers who held rare protest over unpaid salaries
Summary
Date Reported: 18 Aug 2022
Location: Qatar
Companies
Al Bandary International - Other Value Chain Entity , Al Bandary Engineering - Employer , Electrowatt - EmployerOther
Government ( Public Entities ) - GovernmentAffected
Total individuals affected: 200
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - India , Construction , Gender not reported ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Bangladesh , Construction , Gender not reported ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Nepal , Construction , Gender not reported ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Egypt , Construction , Gender not reported ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Philippines , Construction , Gender not reported )Issues
Freedom of Expression , Intimidation , Precarious/Unsuitable Living Conditions , Dismissal , Violence , Personal Health , Wage Theft , ImprisonmentResponse
Response sought: Yes, by The Resource Centre
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: The Resource Centre reached out to Al Bandary International and subsidiaries but they did not respond. The Qatari Government launched an investigation into Al Bandary International after it has confirmed that the wages have indeed not been paid. It also said it will commit to paying the outstanding wages. Regarding the deportations, the government said the deported were in breach of security laws.
Source type: News outlet
Qatar has detained more than 60 workers who held a rare protest against unpaid wages, with some threatened with deportation just months before the FIFA World Cup.
Migrant Rights, an NGO based in GCC, said the Al Bandary Engineering and Electro Watt Company had not paid its workers for the last six months.
Detained workers told Migrant Rights that at least 25 to 30 people are being kept in one room. According to the NGO, some workers said Qatar had deported several workers already with only part of their pay settlement.
Workers and trade union representatives told the NGO that the company had promised them their salaries on 11 August.
But when they were denied their wages and had the electricity cut from their company-owned accommodation, the workers went on strike.
Last Sunday, 200 workers took to the streets of Doha to demand their unpaid wages outside the Bandary International Group's offices in Qatar.
Al Bandary International Group did not respond to Middle East Eye's requests for comment at the time of writing.