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Company in the dock over pending salaries

ABU DHABI —The failure of a contracting company to meet a deadline fixed by labour authorities to pay workers’ pending salaries landed it in the labour court, Khaleej Times has learnt.

Failing to deliver on its assurance that it would pay 22 labourers their dues during the grace period sanctioned by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, 'Rashidco Contracting Company' has to face legal procedures to protect labourer’s rights, an official at the Labour Dispute Department told this reporter yesterday.

The labourers who are of Asian nationalities lodged a complaint with the ministry in July demanding unpaid wages for about eight months, claiming the company has an irregular payment system. KT reported the dispute on July 18.

The workers refused the companies offer to receive their dues in instalments and insisted on either getting all their full dues or refer the case to the court, said the official.

"In a bid to spare the labourers the hassle of prolonged judicial procedures and safeguard their interests, the ministry had initially reached an agreement with the company to follow a systematic schedule in paying due wages as the company apparently suffers financial difficulties", said the official.

He said the ministry fixed September 1 as a deadline for payment to ensure an amicable solution to the dispute.

The official underlined the ministry had pledged to supervise the payment timetable to make sure the workers get their legal dues.

"Unfortunately, the company violated the date set for payment, claiming it has financial constraints. The ministry referred the case to the labour court to protect the rights of the labourers and make sure they get all their dues", he said.