18/01/2021
“We Are All Going To Die Here” | Migrant-Rights.org
Nair also owns Mayouri Holding W.L.L, which owns shares in several companies in Bahrain, including
Orlando. Nair is well-established in Bahrain and is a prominent member of the Kerala Social and
Cultural Association and the Indian School in Bahrain. He is also a member of the Bahrain Asian
Traders Committee (BATC) and is well connected with the Indian embassy, having been seen with
embassy o cials at several events in the past.
Workers say his connections provide him with a high degree of immunity.
An Indian worker told MR, “GK Nair is a big image man, he has all connection in Indian embassy and
NORKA. Last time we complained at NORKA and we told them we don’t have a salary and food, the
NORKA people directly called GK Nair and he told them “don’t worry, I will give salary” and then that
same evening the HR manager gave us BD 20 (USD 53) that’s it. He has too much connection here, that’s
why we go anywhere, nothing, nobody helps us. ”
Workers told Migrant-Rights.Org that when they called the Indian embassy last month, they were told
the embassy only handles emergency cases and since this is a “normal case,” there’s nothing they can
do.
According to the workers and documents MR attained, GK Nair has long-promised workers to pay wages
by a speci c date, only to break the promise, and o ering di erent excuses as to why wages have been
not being paid (see documents).
The workers are quite literally held hostage in miserable accommodations, with passports con scated,
wages stolen, and the company forcing them to forego claims in order to return home. The toll on their
mental and physical health has been severe.
The Bahraini government must intervene to retrieve the worker’s passports and work with the embassy
to repatriate the workers. The government must also work swi ly to recoup the worker’s wages. As
recommended in our previous report, the government could tap into the unemployment fund - which
migrants pay into – to fund the workers’ compensation and reclaim that amount at a later point from
Orlando.
The government should also immediately make testing available for all workers and provide healthcare
as well as facilities for workers to self-isolate. The labour camp should be sterilised and workers should
be provided with sanitation supplies and protective equipment.
The Bahraini government must establish a comprehensive regulatory framework that protects lowincome migrant workers from these abusive practices and implement strong enforcement measures to
nally put an end to wage the .
Note: MR has attempted to contact G K Nair and the company several times for their inputs, to no avail.
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