no salary for 4 months
Jul 15th 2019, 10:02 am
#1
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Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Dubai
Posts: 2,843
no salary for 4 months
Hi Folks, was wondering if anyone can share any advice/help.
Someone I know of (Syrian national) has not been paid for 4 months. He is not the only one in the company who hasn't been paid....apparently numerous other employees have also not been paid. The company keeps promising to pay them but nothing materalises and it's now been 4 months (including Jun salary). I don't think it's been 4 months straight, i think the salaries have been paid here and there eg paid 1 month and then not paid the following couple of months. In total 4 months worth of salaries are still outstanding.
Some people have managed to get other jobs and have left, and I think have lodged cases against the company for back pay. The others who are still working for the company are constantly looking for other jobs to try and get out. It's a construction company and management keep saying that they can't pay the salaries because the clients are not paying them.
Some of them, including the person i am talking about, are reluctant to lodge a case with whichever governing body deals with these kind of disputes (Labour Government or whatever it's called) because they are afraid that if they make a formal complaint, the company will then (under false pretences) fire them and they will then completely be out of pocket.
I have no idea how these things work but surely there must be some kind of recourse these people can turn too? If anyone can share any advice that would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Someone I know of (Syrian national) has not been paid for 4 months. He is not the only one in the company who hasn't been paid....apparently numerous other employees have also not been paid. The company keeps promising to pay them but nothing materalises and it's now been 4 months (including Jun salary). I don't think it's been 4 months straight, i think the salaries have been paid here and there eg paid 1 month and then not paid the following couple of months. In total 4 months worth of salaries are still outstanding.
Some people have managed to get other jobs and have left, and I think have lodged cases against the company for back pay. The others who are still working for the company are constantly looking for other jobs to try and get out. It's a construction company and management keep saying that they can't pay the salaries because the clients are not paying them.
Some of them, including the person i am talking about, are reluctant to lodge a case with whichever governing body deals with these kind of disputes (Labour Government or whatever it's called) because they are afraid that if they make a formal complaint, the company will then (under false pretences) fire them and they will then completely be out of pocket.
I have no idea how these things work but surely there must be some kind of recourse these people can turn too? If anyone can share any advice that would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Jul 16th 2019, 6:13 am
#2
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Joined: Dec 2016
Location: SYD again, formerly PRG, LON, HKG, SIN, SYD & DOH
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Re: no salary for 4 months
Can you give an idea of location are we talking about UAE, Qatar, KSA?
Only observation is that if the employer has no cash to pay out, you can’t draw blood out of a stone and the courts can’t magic up money, only shareholders and lenders can. This is true anywhere.
Only observation is that if the employer has no cash to pay out, you can’t draw blood out of a stone and the courts can’t magic up money, only shareholders and lenders can. This is true anywhere.
Jul 16th 2019, 6:22 am
#3
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Re: no salary for 4 months
the lender is not your friend in times of distress
Jul 16th 2019, 8:50 am
#4
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Posts: 2,900
Re: no salary for 4 months
Read the contract carefully and the associated labour law. I believe everyone who hasn't been paid is a free agent, and can leave for other companies on no notice and without the usual penalties or threat of absconder status.
I can't remember if it is something like 90 days without pay, or if just one missed pay suffices.
The company can fire people but that does not erase the back wages, which are still collectable.
I can't remember if it is something like 90 days without pay, or if just one missed pay suffices.
The company can fire people but that does not erase the back wages, which are still collectable.
Jul 20th 2019, 7:06 am
#5
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Joined: May 2013
Location: Bangkok/Doha
Posts: 614
Re: no salary for 4 months
It's one thing to have laws and statutes but where is the benefit when those charged with enforcing them are beholden to, in the pay of, in thrall of, the accused?
Qatar has implemented such laws, complete with departments and organisations charged with providing recourse and yet the tales still continue of unpaid wages and instant terminations.
Qatar has implemented such laws, complete with departments and organisations charged with providing recourse and yet the tales still continue of unpaid wages and instant terminations.
Aug 4th 2019, 11:43 am
#6
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Location: Dubai
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Re: no salary for 4 months
Can you give an idea of location are we talking about UAE, Qatar, KSA? sorry should have said - it's in Dubai
Only observation is that if the employer has no cash to pay out, you can’t draw blood out of a stone and the courts can’t magic up money, only shareholders and lenders can. This is true anywhere.
Only observation is that if the employer has no cash to pay out, you can’t draw blood out of a stone and the courts can’t magic up money, only shareholders and lenders can. This is true anywhere.
Aug 4th 2019, 11:44 am
#7
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Dubai
Posts: 2,843
Re: no salary for 4 months
Read the contract carefully and the associated labour law. I believe everyone who hasn't been paid is a free agent, and can leave for other companies on no notice and without the usual penalties or threat of absconder status.
I can't remember if it is something like 90 days without pay, or if just one missed pay suffices.
The company can fire people but that does not erase the back wages, which are still collectable.
I can't remember if it is something like 90 days without pay, or if just one missed pay suffices.
The company can fire people but that does not erase the back wages, which are still collectable.
Aug 4th 2019, 11:47 am
#8
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Dubai
Posts: 2,843
Re: no salary for 4 months
It's one thing to have laws and statutes but where is the benefit when those charged with enforcing them are beholden to, in the pay of, in thrall of, the accused?
Qatar has implemented such laws, complete with departments and organisations charged with providing recourse and yet the tales still continue of unpaid wages and instant terminations.
Qatar has implemented such laws, complete with departments and organisations charged with providing recourse and yet the tales still continue of unpaid wages and instant terminations.
Aug 9th 2019, 1:48 am
#9
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Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 4,553
Re: no salary for 4 months
Just peeked in after 10 years and sad to see some things still haven't changed much at all.
I think there is a reporting mechanism now in place, perhaps he can try that as his first port of call?
https://government.ae/en/information...layed-salaries
I'll try and get more information on how effective or robust the process is.
I think there is a reporting mechanism now in place, perhaps he can try that as his first port of call?
https://government.ae/en/information...layed-salaries
I'll try and get more information on how effective or robust the process is.
