200 Indian workers in Oman without salary

Muscat: At least 200 Indians working with an Oman-based construction company have not been paid for the past five months, a media report said on Wednesday.

"Our salaries are pending for the past five months. We were waiting for the company to pay us, but they have failed to keep their promise. It has become quite difficult to survive," the Times of Oman quoted workers as saying on Tuesday.

The workers have lodged a complaint with the Indian embassy to get their dues.

"We have lodged a complaint with the Indian embassy on August 10. We are ready to leave but we need to be paid for our work. We cannot leave empty-handed," the workers said.

He added that the company, which has project sites in Ibri, Mabelah, Nakhal and Bausher, is asking the workers to leave. "They are not ready to clear our dues," the workers said.

Attempts to get a comment from the company over the workers' claims failed, the report said.

"The Oman government and the labour law guarantee a salary for the workers according to the signed job contract agreed upon at the time of employment. So, if there is any violation in that the workers have the right to approach the labour department," a Muscat-based legal advisor said.