An expatriate project manager in Bahrain recently won a case against a construction company for unpaid wages and overtime hours. The plaintiff, who had been working for the company since 2017, claimed that he was not paid his full salary, including overtime hours and allowances for working on official holidays. Additionally, he alleged that the company did not cover his medical expenses as agreed upon in his contract.
The court ruled in favor of the plaintiff, ordering the construction company to pay him a total of 16,000 BHD in compensation. This amount included 5,800 BHD for unpaid wages, 6,600 BHD for overtime pay, and 3,300 BHD for medical expenses incurred by the plaintiff.
The court confirmed the employment relationship between the parties and noted that the company had failed to provide evidence of paying the plaintiff’s salary for December 2023 and January 2024. This lack of evidence likely played a significant role in the court’s decision to rule in favor of the plaintiff.
Documents presented in court showed that the company was contracted by the Ministry of Housing to work on projects and the plaintiff had worked 364 additional hours at night as a consultant on one of these projects. The court recognized the validity of the plaintiff’s claim for overtime pay and awarded him 6,600 BHD for those extra hours worked.
Despite the company’s denial of the plaintiff’s claims for overtime and holiday pay, the court sided with the plaintiff based on the evidence presented. This case serves as a reminder for companies operating in Bahrain to adhere to labor laws and honor the terms of their employment contracts to avoid facing legal repercussions in the future.
In conclusion, the successful outcome of this case highlights the importance of upholding fair labor practices in the workplace. It also demonstrates the effectiveness of the legal system in Bahrain in protecting the rights of employees, especially expatriates who may be vulnerable to exploitation. Employers should take note of this ruling and ensure that they fulfill their obligations to their employees to avoid similar legal disputes in the future.
