Working Without Pay
Oman labour court orders compensation for 36 Bangladeshi workers
The Labour Court in Oman ordered authorities concerned to compensate 36 Bangladeshi workers who had worked for a construction firm in the Arab state without regular salaries for over two years. The court order came on Thursday, said Bangladesh Ambassador to Oman Sheikh Sekander Ali yesterday. The workers will be given Omani Rials 1,000 to 1,500, he told The Daily Star over phone.
Meanwhile, some of the workers shared their experience with the Muscat Daily, an Oman-based newspaper.
“The past two and half years were a nightmare. I sold my land, house and cattle to pay for the visa to Oman. My family thought it would give us a better life, but it was just the beginning of a battle to survive,” said Zahir, 30, one of the workers who had been hired for salaries between Omani Rials 90 to 150.
Upon landing in Muscat in 2011, the workers discovered that they will be working at construction sites.
They said basic amenities like food were not provided and that they lived in a camp at the construction firm, Mabela Industrial Estate, without electricity or proper water supply.
They were not paid for a year and a half.
“We are now looking forward to going home. We have been given some sustenance money after the court order. The Bangladesh embassy provided us food for some time,” said Mohammad Farooq Islam.
-With The Daily Star input
