Chinese workers protest at Embassy for overtime payments and meals

More than 50 Chinese labourers protested yesterday outside the Chinese Embassy in St Clair claiming their employer Trinity Housing has not paid them overtime monies for the past year.

The workers went to the embassy to seek assistance from Chinese officials. One worker, through a translator, said, “We have not been paid overtime since we started work over 12 months.” The workers, who have been employed to work on various projects, also said they had not been given meals for two days.

One worker explained that their contractual agreement stated that meals, housing and transport were to be provided by Trinity Housing. Another worker said the contract also stated that they were being paid a basic rate of $16.20 per hour for the first 120 hours per fortnight. After that they were entitled to $20.50 per hour, which they said they have not been receiving. Gang Liang, director of the commercial office of the Embassy, said the workers came to the embassy for assistance as they had nowhere else to go. Liang said they would try their best to resolve the matter as soon as possible.

Liang said he called Trinity Housing to inquire about the situation, but was awaiting feedback from management. When contacted, Basil Ali, Group Chief Operating Officer of Rahael Holdings Ltd, parent company of Trinity Housing, said he was not aware of the situation as he had just returned to the country. Ali said the company would not treat the workers in that manner. Asked to speak to chief executive officer of Trinity Housing Alwin Chow, Ali said he was not in office. After preliminary investigations, Ali said the statements made by the workers were inaccurate, but added that he wished not to comment further on the matter.