Madam Patricia Appiagyei, MP for Asokwa addressing the workers of Chigo Chinese Company Limited after the negotiations at the company’s site.
The timely intervention by the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Asokwa, Chief Akwannuasa Gyimah and the Member of Parliament for Asokwa, Madam Patricia Appiagyei has enabled Ghanaian workers with Chigo Chinese Company Limited, contractor working on Asokwa roads to go home with a ten percent increment on their salaries.
The workers have also been assured of protective clothing and requisite equipment to work with effective next week.
This follows a meeting between the MCE, MP, Atonsu chiefs, the project coordinator of CHIGO as well as leaders of the workers union and labor officers from the Employment Ministry.
The agitating workers had complained about the 15cedis a day rate they were being given by the Chinese employers and before the meeting last Friday had threatened a demonstration to press for an increment after carrying out a three day sit down strike.
MCE:
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Chief Akwannuasa expressed happiness about the outcome of the negotiations but urged local workers to demand for appointment letters henceforth so as to have the full details of their working conditions before they commence work.
He said the attitude whereby Ghanaian laborers jump at job opportunities without probing for details should be a thing of the past.
Chief Akwannuasa wondered how workers would want to demand pay increment and better treatment when they have nothing on paper to argue their cases out.
The Chigo Chinese Company, the MCE noted had offered to pay a 10% increment to all workers they employed from October 2018 and had also agreed to calculate the increments from January till date for the workers who qualify for same.
‘’I am taking this opportunity to advise all our workers to demand for their appointment letters anytime they are employed so that they can feel secure and also know the details of their working conditions’’, Chief Akwannuasa firmly posited.
MP:
Madam Patricia Appiagyei, MP for Asokwa also urged the workers to make use of their leadership front to discuss issues regarding their welfare.
The resort to the use of demonstrations and violent agitations to press home for demands, the MP noted yields little results.
LABOUR OFFICER:
Martin Owusu Sekyere, Labor Officer at Asokwa Municipal Assembly asked the workers to resume work and channel any grievances they may have in the future through the union chairman and his outfit.
He also assured management of Chigo, the workers and other stakeholders of the Labor Ministry’s resolve to deal with the issues involving workers and employers dispassionately so as to ensure both get value for their services.
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