Chinese workers stage protest to demand pay

Chinese construction workers in Trinidad and Tobago staged a demonstration on one of the country's busiest highways Tuesday to draw attention to what they say is unfair treatment by their employers.

The few could could speak some English explained to reporters that they haven't been paid in months and would prefer to return home.

They said they came to Trinidad based on promises that they would earn enough money for their families but that has not been the case. They said each of them is owed TT$22,000 for two months of work.

Police removed the dozens of protesters and took them to the Immigration Department in Port of Spain.

The expatriate workers refused to return to their work site or to their residential compound.

The Trinidad Express said they showed reporters a handwritten letter in English, urging the government to intervene to help them get their money.

An official from the local Embassy of the People's Republic of China showed up at the immigration office and encouraged the men to leave. Diplomats at the embassy told the Express their role was to ensure that the rights of their nationals were protected, not to judge the matter.

The Beijing Liujian Construction Corporation told the paper it is not owing the men any money. The company, which is responsible for contracting the workers to work in Trinidad and Tobago, also denied the claim by the workers that they were being held against their will.

Daisy Feng, the managing director's assistant, told the paper the company is making arrangements for the men to return home although their contract does not expire until about January 16, 2010.

She said the company is terminating the contracts because the workers want to go home. She explained that the company had collected security deposits from the workers to ensure that they met their obligations for the entire contracted period of time. The deposits would be confiscated for breach of contract, she said.

Feng explained that of the 190 workers contract workers only about 80 of them have been affected. She declined to give the information about working conditions and how long the workers are made to work every day.

However she said the work arrangements are in keeping with the labour laws of Trinidad and Tobago.

Read the NEWSDAY report: 'Chinese work like slaves'