Muscat: About 40 Omani staff at the Ras Al Jinz Scientific Research Centre continued their strike for the second day on Monday, paralysing all turtle watching activities at the turtle reserve.
"We had given notice to the management on April 8 and since we didn't get a reply for 20 days we decided to go on strike," Nasser Al Zedjali, an assistant guide, told Gulf News.
He said when Omran Hospitality took over they were hopeful of improved conditions but it never happened. “Nothing has improved in last four years,” he said, adding that none of the assistant guides has been promoted as guides despite promises.
He said that soon after the turtle reserve was handed over to a commercial entity, the employees were promised a lot of incentives and better emoluments.
“No new guides are appointed and at the same time they keep adding tourists to the groups watching turtle hatching on the beach,” he pointed out.
“It used to be 80 to 100 a night but now sometimes about 180 to 200 visitors are allowed in,” he said. According to Al Zedjali, allowing more number of visitors could also keep turtles away. “No one seems to be bothered as their only aim is to make money,” he said.
He also alleged that the promised increments as well as bonuses were not given in the last four years.
“When we raise the issue we are thrown around like shuttle cock between the Tourism Ministry and Omran,” he pointed out.
Wael Al Lawati, CEO of Omran, told Gulf News the strike followed discussions.
"The key demands made in the last meeting did not constitute a legal right to strike according to the Ministry of Manpower officials," Al Lawati said.
