Workers protest again for better pay
By BEGENA P PRADEEP
Published: 10th March 2008
MORE than 600 workers at a contracting company downed tools for the second time in 10 months yesterday to demand pay rises.
It was Bahrain’s 12th strike in five weeks and was staged by workers at the Mohammed Jalal Contracting Company.
They previously went on strike in May last year, but returned to work three days later after management agreed to improve salaries.
The workers originally demanded a BD15 food allowance to be added to their basic salaries, which the company apparently agreed to.
Workers protest again for better pay
By BEGENA P PRADEEP
Published: 10th March 2008
MORE than 600 workers at a contracting company downed tools for the second time in 10 months yesterday to demand pay rises.
It was Bahrain’s 12th strike in five weeks and was staged by workers at the Mohammed Jalal Contracting Company.
They previously went on strike in May last year, but returned to work three days later after management agreed to improve salaries.
The workers originally demanded a BD15 food allowance to be added to their basic salaries, which the company apparently agreed to.
However, they went on strike again yesterday complaining that another demand for a 20 per cent pay rise had not been met.
The workers claimed the company had offered increases of three to five per cent to some employees based on their performance. They yesterday demanded an extra BD20 a month each and threatened to continue their strike until they get it.
The workers include Indians, Bangladeshis and Pakistanis who live at the firm’s Salmabad labour camp.
They said their salaries ranged from BD45 to BD55 before May last year, but with the introduction of a food allowance they now ranged from BD60 to BD70.
“We also earn nearly BD40 as overtime, but it is very hard to survive on this small amount,” said one worker, who asked to remain anonymous. “The price of everything has increased in Bahrain and back home.
“To make matters worse the Indian rupee has got stronger, which means less money is reaching our homes.
“We need a BD20 raise and in writing this time.”
Workers told the GDN they submitted a written notice to the company a month ago threatening to go on strike if their demands were not met.
They said they were happy with their accommodation, but argued that their salaries were too low – particularly since some had worked for the company for many years.
“The written notice was submitted during the first week of last month explaining our demands and the consequences if they were not fulfilled,” said another worker.”
The labourers claimed the company came forward with an offer of a BD10 pay rise on Saturday in an attempt to avert a strike.
“They somehow came to know of our plan to go on strike and offered us a BD10 raise, but this is not good enough now,” said one worker. Some workers who joined the company recently claimed that although they had signed contracts for a basic salary of BD70 and a BD20 allowance, they never received the allowance.
“We signed contracts for BD70 a month with a BD20 allowance,” said one worker, who joined the company last October.
“When we didn’t get the BD20 and asked for it they threatened to send us back home.” Labour Ministry officials have urged the workers to resume duty and accept the BD10 pay rise offered by the company, but they were holding out for a better deal yesterday.
Mohammed Jalal Contracting Company general manager David Bailey declined to comment.
begena@gdn.com.bh
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