And the MoSA&L keeps their head firmly buried in the sand...

Whilst it's left to philanthropists and the Reverend to help those who have been pushed off the cliff, those who pushed them off the cliff don’t even get their names dragged through the press, and in a mishmash of metaphors, the band plays on (in this case the Ministry that could do something and take some responsibility, continues to do nothing). The latest instalment from this ongoing saga in today's Arab Times...

Stranded workers run into problems with ‘new firm’; ‘We are being exploited’

KUWAIT CITY: Some of the stranded Bangladeshi workers who were provided jobs by a local company on Wednesday claimed that the company was exploiting them by making them work around the clock without any benefits. According to the workers, two representatives of the new company assaulted some of the workers after the latter refused to work for more than 12 hours for KD 20 salary. It may be recalled some 90 Bangladeshi workers were given jobs as cleaners at a Co-op by a company and had promised to provide jobs for the rest of the workers in the next few days. On Wednesday, out of the 90 workers, 70 did not report to work and will continue to do so unless the company pays them overtime with a short break after every 7 hours.

Utilized
Expressing happiness over the donation of two drinking water coolers by a philanthropist on Wednesday, the workers thanked the donor and said that the coolers in question are now being utilized by workers from other companies as well. Some 1,300 Bangladeshi cleaners employed with a local company have complained of unpaid wages and deplorable living conditions at their accommodation in Hassawi. Of the 1,300 workers, some 200 female cleaners were evicted by a court order from their apartments on Monday, and have now been provided accommodation in Mahboula. On the other hand, the male workers continue to defy the eviction order and have vowed not to vacate their apartments unless all their dues are settled by the company.

According to the workers, the new company did not allow them to return to their accommodation to freshen up despite numerous requests and in stead made them work for 48 hours at a stretch. The crestfallen workers observed that the company was not giving them overtime for the extra hours worked, adding: “We were told by the new company officials that we would be given overtime but when we started work, the company officials refused and assaulted our fellow workers when they demanded their rights.” Elaborating further, the workers noted that many of the workers are ready to return home provided their company shoulders the repatriation cost in addition to paying fines in relation to their expired residencies.

Punches
Noting that the new company had embarked on a programme of harassment, a cleaner told the Arab Times that a supervisor at the company threw several punches at him for refusing to work for more than 12 hours. Articulating disappointment at the turn of events, the workers noted that they thought their saga had ended after starting work for the new firm and blamed the company for going back on its commitments. “We request the new company to treat us in a humane manner. A majority of the workers are disappointed and just want to return home. We request Reverend Andy Thompson to help us return home. He has done a lot for us and continues to do so and we will never forget his noble deeds.” Some 30 cleaners are awaiting deportation after the company had them arrested allegedly for inciting their colleagues to go on strike. The company has refused to bear the repatriation cost.

By Francis A. Clifford Cardozo
Arab Times Staff