Dubai, June 7: A strike called by around 2,000 workers, including Indians, employed with a local engineering company in Qatar, has been deemed illegal by authorities.

According to reports, the strikers, who also include Nepalis, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans and Egyptians, are demanding salary hikes. They have not come to work since Sunday.

A report in The Peninsula newspaper quoted Saif Al Khayarin, a labour inspector handling the case, as saying that the strike was illegal since the workers held valid contracts and hence were not entitled to make such demands.

Those on strike include carpenters, plumbers and other semi-skilled and skilled employees. They draw a salary of around Qatari rial (QR) 650 and enjoy nominal perks, according to the report.

There are over 130,000 Indians in Qatar, many of them working as contract labourers.