Migrant labourers staged a rare protest in Qatar over unpaid wages, the government said, at a time of economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic and rock-bottom oil prices.

Images on social media showed more than 100 men blocking a main road in the Msheireb district of the capital Doha late Friday, clapping and chanting as police looked on.

“Following an immediate investigation (the ministry) has taken steps to ensure that all salaries will be promptly paid in the coming days,” the labour ministry said in a statement. It added that legal action has been taken against the companies involved in non-payment of salaries.