A view of a room in the labour camp where eight workers have been crammed into. (SHAIVAL DALAL)

company fails to clear dues of workers who quit two months ago

doha • Dozens of workers, who have already quit their jobs, are languishing at various labour camps of a plumbing company. Though the workers had quit their jobs almost two months ago, they have been forced to stay back as the company did not bother to clear their dues.

The company has its labour camps on Street No, 2 of the Industrial Area, Maizer, Azizia and Duhail. In the Industrial Area alone, more than 40 labourers who had put in their papers.

Though nearly two months have elapsed since they have resigned from their jobs, the company has not cleared their dues.

“It was the delayed payment and poor living conditions at the camp that forced us to quit the job. The company owes three months' salary to us. Despite our repeated requests, they have not bothered to clear the dues. The visas of many workers expired long ago. But the company is not permitting us to leave the country," said an Asian expatriate worker to this newspaper.

Meanwhile, the workers of all the four camps went on strike on Saturday forcing the company to pay one month's arrears.

But, three months' salary are still pending, they said.

The workers approached the Labour Department last month. The Department officials told them that the company has been directed to clear the dues within a month. But nothing happened, they said.

Adding to their cup of woe is the abject living conditions in the labour camp. One cannot enter the camp due to the stench emanating from inside. Cramped and unhygienic living conditions and abject neglect of safety regulations were evident. Filth and rubbish have piled up all around

Workers said the manhole was overflowing for three days, until some one came and pumped it out on Sunday.

Eight workers are huddled in an 8 ft x 8 ft room, which has a lone bathroom. The kitchen has leaky pipes, a rusted sink and poor drainage facilities.