On the 11th day of the largest and longest running foreign strike in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ industrial history, Chinese Workers claim that they are being bullied to return to China.
Ashtrom boss come here; he want to take workers back to China. Don’t pay salary, don’t pay $4 or $5 an hour,” one striker said. “…Yesterday talk to give money, now they don’t give money.” He added.
Along with seeking a salary that matches the Turks and Caicos minimum wage, the protesters are demanding four months pay owed to them by various sub-contractors—contracted through Israeli construction company Ashtrom International Ltd.
Protesters recently visited the Labour Department seeking assistance. The labour department says they have sent notification to Turquoise Contruction, a subsidiary company under which Ashtrom operates in the Turks and Caicos, giving them a time frame for this dispute to be resolved.
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—Bobbi Misick & Angie Toussaint
Filed under: LOCAL NEWS | Tagged: Ashtrom, Chinese Labour, Strike, Turks and Caicos, Turquoise Construction
