Thirty-six Nepali workers in Qatar unpaid for eight months

Thirty-six Nepali migrant workers in Qatar face an eight-month wage crisis, with their employer, Intertectra Qatar WLL, allegedly owing them over 540,000 Qatari Riyals (approximately $140,000) in unpaid salaries, overtime, and gratuities. The situation has led 85 migrant workers, including the 36 Nepalis, to cease work in protest.

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The company owes each worker between 15,000 and 40,000 Riyals in unpaid salaries and benefits. Besides the eight months of unpaid wages, we have not received food allowances for 10 months and overtime payments for the past two years.

Workers like Ram Dayal Raya and Shri Khatwe report that payments have been sporadic for years, with salaries, overtime, and even food allowances going unpaid for extended periods. Despite working on major Qatari infrastructure projects in Lusail, Ras Laffan, and Doha, they have not received their due compensation. The workers have calculated their claims and filed a complaint with the Qatari labor office, awaiting a final hearing.

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At first, the company paid one month’s salary every two or three months, even though work at the construction sites continued normally. Later, after paying one month’s salary, they again made us wait another two months, saying payments from the project sites had not arrived.

Efforts to resolve the issue have involved the Nepali Embassy in Doha, which reportedly held discussions with company representatives. The company allegedly proposed clearing the dues in exchange for two more months of work, but refused to provide a written guarantee. This lack of commitment has pushed the workers to escalate their case, first to the labor office and potentially to the Labour Court if a resolution isn't reached.

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We worked on major government projects, but we are still being denied our wages.