The workers continued to suffer after the company in a labor dispute case failed to honor the lower court verdict to pay their delayed salaries, end-of-service benefits, renewal of Iqama (residence permit) and allowing them to go on vacation or exit only visa. Around 300 workers of various nationalities including Indians, Bangladeshis, Pakistanis and Filipinos approached the lower court with a petition against their company for delayed salaries that ranged between four and 10 months, inability of the company to send them on vacation and non-renewal of their Iqamas. The lower court delivered the verdict in record time some two-week ago and instructed Al-Hasana Company in Riyadh to pay workers' dues – at least two basic salaries on every Tuesday and Wednesday of the week. Mateen Ghazanfar Shaikh, the company's representative approached the employees on the specified day to implement the court order. However, the company's intentions were clear when the representative demanded their thumb impression on a paper that they have received all their pending dues. “In fact, the company was playing a trick by taking the employees' thumb impression on a paper, which says payment of all pending dues including delayed salaries,” he said adding that the workers refused to do so and then approached the lower court to inform the judge about the latest development. Shaikh, employed as A/C technician, said the lower court judge has then referred the case to a higher court for further action. The employees approached the higher court, which demanded them to submit their personal details (name, passport number and grievances), on prescribed forms. Shaikh said all the employees have obeyed the court order, which notified the company by giving a new hearing date next Sunday. He said the employees are hoping the higher court also takes decision in the quickest possible time, which could save them from further deteriorating conditions. However, the higher court is also demanding representatives of the respective embassies to be present at the time of court hearing. Shaikh said the Indian Embassy in Riyadh has been informed of the court demand, but so far there is no news whether any legal representative will be present during the next hearing.
