Kuwait Times

Kuwait City, Aug 19: The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor disclosed that it had received information that a number of Bangladeshi laborers employed at security and safety companies as well as taxi drivers were also planning to strike. It said the disgruntled employees are planning to stage demonstrations at various locations around Kuwait because the companies have withheld their salaries for several months.

The Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Bader Al-Duwaila however said he will never allow companies to violate laws and the ministry will definitely not permit companies to infringe on the rights of workers.

He said strict legal action will be initiated against all errant companies even if they are owned by high-ranking officials, reported Al-Rai.

He also said that the ministry is gearing up to face any eventuality (possible strikes) staged by Bangladeshi workers. He said he issued orders to the security authorities to gear up and be ready to face any developments.

The legal committee at the Cabinet recently held a meeting to discuss raising the budget to increase the salaries of cleaning company workers.

The meeting was attended by the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Bader Al-Duwaila. An official however indicated that the budget might reach KD 20 million and the ministry will be faced with the problem in disbursing the payments to the companies that have already committed violations, reported Al-Qabas.

If the ministry pays the difference in the increased salaries to those companies, there are no guarantees that the money will eventually be paid to the underpaid workers, the official said. On the contrary, the payment will then be turned into a disadvantage as the errant companies will benefit from it and not the underpaid laborers, he added.