‘We won’t leave Manama, come what may’

The labourers and ‘free-visa workers’ living in dilapidated buildings and congested labour accommodations in Manama and Salmaniya area are unwilling to move out of the place as they believe it would affect their livelihood.

There has been a huge demand from the part of lawmakers, councilors and social workers to move the labour accommodations out of Manama to different places across the Kingdom. While the demand highlights the safety of workers, the workers are worried about losing jobs and income as people from across the Kingdom come searching for workers in Manama and nearby areas. Speaking to Tribune, a worker said on grounds of anonymity.

“I don’t work for a particular company. People approach us for various kinds of work and if we are shifted to some other place they will lose access to us. And this would adversely affect our livelihood.” Four people died and more than 30 were injured after a building collapsed in a gas cylinder blast in the Salmaniya area last Tuesday.