Illegal workers’ complaints will be rejected

“Labour complaints are usually treated on the basis of rules set by the country to regulate labour relations and protect the rights of both employees and employers. However, if the status of the complainant is illegal, we will discard the complaint,” an official source at the ministry yesterday told Khaleej Times.

The comment came in response to a complaint lodged by an Arab employee, whose labour status was not legal, demanding payment of unpaid salary.

“This Egyptian employee has been working for a certain company for some time, but he had a problem with his employer and decided to quit his job,” the official said.

He said the worker then joined another firm without obtaining a permit from the labour authorities.

“It seems that he was unlucky with his second choice also as he claimed the other employer denied him three months’ salary,” said the official.

He said the labourer left no room for the Ministry to intervene to investigate his claims so as to safeguard his rights as in the first place he was not supposed to work elsewhere before getting his labour conditions settled.

“Unfortunately, we were compelled to reject his complaint with the Labour Dispute Department at the Ministry because his labour status was illegal,” said the official.

He called on the employees to make sure that they report their labour complaints to the labour authorities to safeguard their rights and maintain a legal labour status in the country.

“Instead of trying to be smart and decide to settle problems with their sponsors on their own, the employees are advised to seek the Ministry’s help in resolving their complaints and protecting their rights,” the official said.