COVID-19: Qatar says probing wage delay after labour protest
Thousands of migrant workers suffer after COVID-19 layoffs
Cairo: Qatari authorities have said they opened an inquiry into delay in paying migrant workers after their protest amid reports of a worsening situation of the low-wage labourers in the country due to economic impact of the new coronavirus.
The Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs said it was investigating the incident in coordination with competent bodies, vowing to take unspecified measures to ensure employers' commitment to pay the wages in the next few days, the Qatari news agency QNA reported.
The ministry said it would impose penalties against companies violating the labour law, the agency added without details.
"The Development Ministry calls on employers and companies to necessarily follow its instructions on their legal obligations during the virus outbreak," it said.
The COVID-19 spread in Qatar has triggered economic fallout that has hard hit the emirate's migrant community of over 2 million.
Earlier this month, Britain's The Guardian reported that thousands of labourers have become jobless, with some forced to beg for food.