The Hindu : National : Bahrain construction workers end strike

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Friday, Feb 15, 2008
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Bahrain construction workers end strike

Atul Aneja

DUBAI: The six-day strike by over 2,000 construction workers, a majority of whom are Indians, has ended following an agreement over a pay hike and better living conditions.

The construction firm involved in the prestigious $ 6-billion Durrat Al Bahrain luxury housing project has agreed to raise the salary of its unskilled employees from BD 57 (approximately Rs. 5,700) to BD 72.

The management has also agreed not to cut wages during the period of the strike.

Negotiations

The workers were earlier demanding a wage of BD 100 in tune with the minimum wage announced by Government of India for unskilled workers in Bahrain, applicable from March 1 onwards.

The Indian embassy in Bahrain had facilitated negotiations between workers and their employers, Indian Ambassador to Bahrain Balkrishna Shetty told The Hindu over telephone.

The General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU) had supported the agitation, with its information secretary noting the “inhuman conditions” in which these employees were living. Bahraini human rights groups had also supported the strike, citing the growing cost of living, labour shortages and the tumbling value of the dollar which was wiping out savings.

With labour unrest gathering momentum, Bahrain’s Shura council had summoned Labour Minister Majeed Al Alawi for a verbal hearing on the working conditions of expatriate workers.

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