Oman trade union rescues workers stranded at resort

Muscat: Around 30 workers stranded at a resort in Muscat were recently helped by the Oman trade union, officials said.
“The workers were stranded as the resort had reportedly stopped its operations. We were informed about the workers’ situation as they were struggling without power supply, food and water at their accommodation. We reached the location that night itself to help them,” Mohammed Khaldi, a board member of the General Federation of Oman Trade Union (GFOTU), told the Times of Oman (GCC).
“Our aim is the welfare of workers. We don’t differentiate between them as nationals or expatriates. Workers are workers,” the trade union official added.
Some 70 workers, including 30 expatriates, were stranded after the resort they were working in reportedly closed its doors some 40 days ago without paying their pending salaries.
“The workers were struggling without food and clean drinking water. Moreover, as there was no power supply, they were afraid even to sleep peacefully as the area is infected snakes,” the trade union official said, adding that they have taken up the issue with the government.
Mohammed Al Farji, board member of GFOTU, who met the stranded workers, initiated procedures to lodge their grievances with the Ministry of Manpower’s office.
An official from the manpower office said they have taken a note of the workers’ grievances and their complaint will be forwarded to the court.
The hotel manager at the resort and spa, who is also one among the stranded workers, told TOO that they were left in lurch after the company stopped operations.
“An intervention by GFOTU has evoked some hope among us. Manpower officials came here. We went with them to office. Individual complaints have been lodged. We hope our issue will be resolved soon,” the manager, who has not been paid his salary for the last 14 months, said.
“We slept peacefully on Tuesday night after the trade union leaders came. We got power supply and food back at our accommodation. As it’s a seaside area, lack of power supply was a big threat as there are a lot of snakes in the area. Hunger pangs can be borne, but what happens if we step on a snake?”
Meanwhile, the company officials were not available for comment. The labour law does not differentiate between an expat and a national worker when it comes to rights and welfare.
Oman is the second country in the Gulf Cooperation Council, after Bahrain, to have a general federation of trade unions. Expatriates are also allowed to join the trade union in Oman.