OMAN IN MUSCAT MORE THAN 700 MIGRANT WORKERS OF REPUTED CONSTRUCTION FIRM EMPLOYING 9200 WORKERS REFUSE TO RESUME WORK AFTER STRIKE CALL OFF AS ASKING FOR PAY OF 150 OMANI RIAL($ 390)FROM PRESENT 90 RIAL ($ 234) 12TH SEPTEMBER 2013 More than 700 workers of a reputed construction firm headquartered in Ghala are continuing to stay back in their labour camp at Al Misfah in Bausher, even as a majority of their colleagues who struck work on Saturday returned to sites on Tuesday. Most of the striking employees work at the Ras al Hamra Development Project in Mina al Fahl, where the company is the principal contractor for phase 1 construction. An official from the company said that work resumed after three days of strike that began on Tuesday but construction has been hampered as many have chosen to stay back at the camp. “A day’s loss is a loss. We are under pressure to deliver and are trying our level best to resolve the issue with remaining workers.” The official added that the company has been trying to convince the workers to resume work. “The company is trying to make the workers aware of facts and requesting them not to be swayed by rabble-rousers.” A worker said, of the 700, a few have been asked by the company to leave while others have offered to quit and return to their home countries. The workers’ main grievances were low salaries and poor food and lodging standards. “We have demanded RO150 salary from the current RO85-90 that most workers get currently,” said another worker. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Manpower in a statement said it had worked closely with the company to end the strike by 9,200 construction workers after agreeing to most important demands. The team from the ministry was headed by Salem bin Said al Badi, director general of Labour Welfare. The ministry stated that expatriate workers employed by the company went on strike, demanding increase in pay and better working conditions as well as streamlining overtime and leave parameters. The ministry also said that ROP and other security agencies were involved in bringing an end to the strike.
Posted on: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 01:39:49 +0000
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