Unpaid construction workers in Bahrain left in the lurch — again
Summary
Date Reported: 7 Nov 2022
Location: Bahrain
Companies
Batelco - Client , Aradous - Client , Al Derazi - Employer , China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) - ClientAffected
Total individuals affected: 62
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Pakistan , Construction , Gender not reported ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Bangladesh , Construction , Gender not reported ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - India , Construction , Gender not reported )Issues
Right to Food , Wage Theft , Precarious/Unsuitable Living Conditions , Failing to renew visas , IntimidationResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Resource Centre
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: After taking their issue to the Bahraini Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), the authority refused to handle complaints from workers whose visas have been expired for over a year, so only a small portion of the workers were able to file a claim. The Ministry of Labour eventually acknowledged the workers' ordeal, claiming the employer is involved in legal issues, and that they will release funds to pay them three months' salaries. The Resource Centre could not find working email or phone contact information to invite Al Derazi to respond; if we receive a response in the future we will update this page to reflect it. Migrant-Rights.org report some of Al Derazi's prominent clients include Bahraini telecommunications giant Batelco, contracting company Aradous, and China Machinery Engineering Corporation. The Resource Centre reached out to all three in November 2022; they did not respond.
Source type: NGO
Construction firm Abdulla H Al Derazi & Sons Co WLL (Al Derazi) is the latest in a slew of companies abandoning their workers in Bahrain. The company’s 62 employees, who hail primarily from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, are owed between 6 and 12 months' worth of wages and end-of-service benefits, totalling about BD100,000 (US$ 265,319)...
The workers told MR that they had continued to work despite the irregular payments because their manager had assured them that their dues would be paid once the company resolves its financial issues. Some of the workers have been with the company for more than 20 years.
But at the end of August 2022, the workers finally dropped their tools and ceased working when the company reneged on its promises once again...
According to documents reviewed by MR, Abdulla H Al Derazi’s recent clients include Batelco, Bahrain’s main telecommunication company, Aradous Contracting & Maintenance and China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC)...