O.W.T.U. Voice Concerns About The Living Conditions Of Chinese Labourers.

The Oilfield Workers Trade Union wants the dismantling of camps which house Chinese labourers in the country.

The union is now adding its voice to concerns about the living conditions of the labourers which were brought to the public attention after a protest last week.

The O.W.T.U. says no citizen with a conscience must turn a blind eye to that situation.

In a statement, the O.W.T.U. says all persons who arrive in this country must be treated with respect and human dignity.

It says the Government continues to hold up the Chinese as model workers who can finish projects in record time it is clear that this is via horrific working and living conditions, fear, humiliation and oppression.

Furthermore the O.W.T.U. says not one citizen can take pride in the tall buildings being built by immigrant workers who were turned into slave labourers.

The O.W.T.U. now calls on the Occupational Safety and Health Agency and the Ministries of Labour and Health to intervene immediately.

The union says the Chinese labourers must be treated with due regard as provided by the law and international conventions.

It says it warned the Government about the importation of labour and the manner in which contracts were being awarded.

It was last Tuesday that the Chinese workers employed with the Beijing Liu-Jiang Construction Company embarked on protest.

They claimed they are owed salaries for two months, a claim the contractor denies

The workers are now locked in at their living quarters at Ramsaran Trace in Bejucal Road, Cunupia

And Opposition Senator, Wade Mark says the Chinese labourers are human beings too.

He said at this time sections 97 and 143 of the I.L.O. convention are being violated.

The Ministry of Labour last week sent in inspectors to look at the Cunupia facility.

They reported that the conditions are bad but they could do little since the O.S.H.A. laws deals specifically with working and not living arrangements.

However the Ministry of Labour has used moral suasion in getting commitments from those responsible for the Chinese, that there would be improvements.