WORK RESUMES ON SOFOLINE INTERCHANGE (SEPT 19, PAGE 18)

GHANAIAN workers of China Geo, the construction firm working on the Sofoline interchange project, have resumed work after a strike action to back their demands for improved working conditions.
This followed a meeting held at the Ashanti Regional Labour Office between the regional police crime officer, regional labour officer, metropolitan labour officer, TUC representatives and management of the company.
A statement dated September 14, and signed by the Executive Project Manager of the Sofoline Interchange project, Mr Xiao Shaochao, said “the management of China Geo Engineering Corporation makes it clear that it has taken positive steps to respond to all grievances of workers which led to their sit-down strike action last week”.
The statement said all matters discussed at the meeting had been resolved amicably to enable work to be completed on schedule.
It said stakeholders at the meeting expressed the hope that any acts of indiscipline committed by some of the workers would not be repeated.
According to the statement, the workers’ strike was unfortunate because management was addressing all their grievances.
Among the demands made by the workers was that workers should be issued with appointment letters, and this the statement said were being processed.
The workers also wanted their salaries/wages to be paid through the banks.
The management said it had asked the workers to furnish its finance office with the names of their respective banks and their account numbers to enable payments to be affected accordingly.
According to the statement, the workers demand for 20 per cent salary increase had been accepted and even backdated from the day of their appointments.
The meeting, according to the statement, also resolved that workers registered for the National Health Insurance Scheme and present their receipts for reimbursement.
“Notwithstanding the issues resolved, management has opened its doors to the workers on any matters and it is appealing for calm, mutual working relationship and understanding to facilitate work at the site,” it said.