Wednesday, August 31 2005 16:36 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Doha: Some 600 foreign construction workers in Qatar, about 300 of them Indians, have ended a strike launched several days ago to protest at non-payment of salaries and poor living conditions, an Indian diplomat and a rights activist said yesterday (Aug 31, 2005).

The strike was called off yesterday (Aug 29, 2005) following a meeting with representatives of their employers and the National Human Rights Committee at the Indian embassy, the second secretary in charge of labour at the mission, R Chambre, told sources.

It was the first strike since Qatar's constitution, which grants the right to strike, came into force in June. But Asian workers have in the past repeatedly engaged in work stoppages and rallied outside their embassies to press their demands.

The local contracting company "Agreed to pay the salary arrears. The workers will get one month immediately and other (outstanding) months by the end of October," Chambre said.

The firm will also pay for getting the workers residence permits and health facilities, while the NHRC, a Qatari Government watchdog, will follow up the issue of the workers' living conditions, she added.

Chambre said on Sunday that the workers around 300 Indians and others from Sri Lanka and Nepal, in addition to some Egyptians had been on strike for a few days in protest at their treatment by their employer.

Chambre said the labourers had not been paid for periods ranging from two to six months and did not have medical facilities.

Chambre said the workers also complained their employer did not carry out the requirements for residence permits and that they were living in bad conditions, with every 12 crammed in a single room and poor kitchen facilities.

NHRC secretary general Ali bin Sumaikh al-Meri also confirmed that the strike was over, saying he was confident the company would live up to promises to pay outstanding salaries and improve the workers' living conditions.

The small gas-rich Gulf state last year introduced a law granting workers the right to form trade unions and go on strike, though protest actions preceded the legislation.

Expatriates, mostly Asian, form a majority in Qatar, where nationals are estimated to number less than 150,000among an overall population of around 740,000.