Chinese company sacks 180 workers on May Day

Over 180 Ghanaians working with a Chinese construction company in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis were dismissed on May Day.

Their ‘crime’ was that they were protesting against what they described as unfair treatment being meted out to them by the management of the Chinese firm – Goodwill Ceramics Company.

According to the aggrieved workers, they had been working with the company, located at Ehyiamu in Sekondi-Takoradi in the Western Region since December 2015.

They indicated that their over four months’ engagement had been characterized by maltreatment and infringement on their rights as Ghanaians, with no disregard for the country’s labour laws.

The workers, who embarked on a sit-down strike on Sunday, said they lacked basic protective gears such as gloves and helmets.

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“As if these were not enough, we are forced to do over-time, long working hours from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm and given unfair dismissals among many other poor working conditions,” the workers lamented.

Ben Adams, the workers’ union chairman, told DAILY GUIDE that on Sunday, May 1, the management of the Chinese company intentionally hid one of the company’s cutting machines in a room.

He noted that management later accused the head of security who doubles as the local union chairman, of negligence leading to the loss of that machine.

“They said the machine was eventually found hidden in one of the rooms being occupied by the employers,” he noted.

Ben Adams mentioned that all the workers had been asked to go home and come back for their April salary on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 after which the company would sever ties with them.