Ras Al Khaimah: The Labour Department Tuesday referred the case of dozens of Arab and Asian workers to the emirate's Labour Court to pass a verdict on the two sponsoring companies, owned by the same man, who have failed to pay salaries for four to eight months.

A total of 18 workers of various nationalities earlier lodged a complaint with the Labour Department. The labourers stressed that they have tried their best to convince their sponsor to pay their salaries amicably, but the sponsor refused.

The labourers took their case to the emirate's authorities which investigated and found the claims to be genuine.

The workers told top officials from the Labour Department that they do not have money to buy food and that if it were not for the Iftar tents they would be going without anything to eat at all.

The workers said they have not been able to transfer money to their families back home and that they have taken their complaints to the management and owner of the companies, but the owner has never tried to resolve the problem.

The Labour Relations Section at the department investigated the case and concluded that the majority of these labourers have not received their salaries for the past eight months and have been living in miserable conditions.

The department officials had summoned the owner of the two companies, but he failed to show up until the department issued him an official warning. He has now vowed to immediately pay all outstanding salaries in a lump sum.