Kitgum market workers go on strike over food
Affected. Mr Living Walter Toroma, the Mayor of Kitgum Municipality, addresses casual workers of Chinese State Construction Engineering Company Limited who were protesting on Saturday. PHOTO BY DENIS OPOKA
What you need to know:
- About the market. The Shs23 billion market is being constructed under the second phase of the Market and Agricultural Trade Improvement program with funding from the African Development Bank. Chinese State Construction Engineering Company limited was contracted to do the construction within 24 months.
Casual workers at a construction site of a new market in Kitgum Municipality on Saturday laid down their tools protesting what they called inhuman treatment by the construction company.
The casual workers, who included masons, porters, drivers, carpenters, and mechanics stormed the office of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Mr Williams Komakech, demanding an immediate intervention.
The workers accuse Chinese State Construction Engineering Company Limited (CSCECL),) a company constructing the multi-billion modern markets under MATIP-2 project, among others of, late payment of their wages, lack of food, failure to provide them with protective gear and working overtime without compensation.
Mr Dick Otim, a builder, told Daily Monitor that when being recruited they were promised Shs20,000 per day but they are instead paid Shs12,000 daily.
Mr Otim said potters were promised Shs15,000 but get only Shs7,500 daily.
“We have decided to bring to the attention of our leaders the situation we are going through so that they can help resolve it,’’ he said.
Mr Charles Kidega, a carpenter, claimed they have never signed any contract agreement with the company and are sometimes forced to work overtime.
Mr Komakech lauded the protesters for taking a non-violent means of expressing their grievances.
He, however, said their issues cannot be resolved without the officials from the company, upon which he requested them to go back to the camp until he meets the officials.
The project manager at CSCECL only identified as Liv denied all the accusation of failing to protect workers.
He, however, admitted delay in payment of the November wages saying workers were supposed to be paid on Friday, but the administration had a lengthy meeting and by the time they finished the banks were already closed.
The mayor for Kitgum Municipality, Mr Living Walter Toroma, advised the workers to always ensure they inform their leaders of any problem.
Mr Toroma said the grievances can be solved without demonstration.
