Indian workers on strike get their outstanding salaries in Bahrain

More than 100 Indian, Pakistani and Filipino workers of Mercury Middle East, who went on strike for non-payment of salaries, have been paid their wages after the intervention of diplomats and labour officials, a media report said on Friday.

The firm said the workers who were on strike since February 28 were paid the outstanding salaries on Wednesday, Gulf Daily News reported, adding that an Indian embassy official who visited the workers at their accommodation reportedly refused to leave on Wednesday until the men were paid.

Mercury Middle East was sub-contracted to carry out work on the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay project by Dubai-based Six Construct. A Mercury representative blamed Six Construct for the delayed payments, alleging it was awaiting payment from the Dubai firm.

"We are yet to be paid by Six Construct and we are still trying to get the money from them," he said.

However, Six Construct said that it was Mercury who was responsible for satisfying the grievances of its workers.

"The name of Six Construct has unfortunately been misused by Mercury," Six Construct managing director Pierre Sironval said.

Bahrain's labour ministry has, meanwhile, launched a probe into the non-payment of 125 Indian, Pakistani and Filipino electrical and mechanical staff.

"Our inspectors visited the labour camp, discussed issues with the employees and contacted the employer," ministry's under secretary Sabah Al Dossary said.