Solomon Islands National Stadium Workers stage sit-in-strike, complain of agreement breach, demand an increase in hourly rates
LOCAL workers on the National Stadium Project have staged a peaceful sit-in-strike yesterday, demanding an increase to their hourly pay rate from SBD$8 to SBD$20.
A spokesperson for workers told Solomon Star outside the stadium that they are simply sitting down to tell the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) to increase their hourly rate according to the rate agreed on by the Solomon Islands Government (SIG).
They claimed to have heard on the news that SIG had agreed on a rate of $20 per hour for local workers.
They also expressed they were not paid according to the agreement they signed with the company. They expressed that despite having completed their probation, their rates remained unstable and around the same rate and furthermore, they are not given pay back benefits.
The spokesperson highlighted that they have signed contract agreements with CCECC, which included worker’s compensation, danger allowance and rates increments but these benefits have not been paid to them.
But CCECC Team leader, Huang Peng, explained that they never signed or heard of such agreement, adding that they set an hourly rate according to the skills and different positions of workers.
“Some are low and some high but everyone is above the minimum standard,” Mr Peng said.
With regards to unstable rates, Mr Peng explained that the rate for everyone is above the minimum standard of the Solomon Islands Government and if workers work well, their rates will be increased.
On the non-increase of rates as per the worker’s agreement, the CCECC Team Leader said, “The employment agreement only states that if the performance of a worker is good, his rate will be increased. But if a worker’s performance is not good, then it is not possible to increase the rate.”
Mr Peng said for the payback benefits, all workers receive the same benefits except for workers with different skills and positions who are paid differently.
In terms of the clauses of the agreement covering compensation, danger allowance and rates increments, the CCECC Team Leader said they have arranged all related allowances required by the Solomon Islands Government, including danger allowance and other allowance such as traffic, food, housing and so on.
All the arrangements and payments are paid in compliance with the Solomon Islands Labour Act and other relevant Solomon Islands Laws and this can be verified with Labour Department in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI).
He said the project has employed several hundreds of local workers since May 2021 up till now.
Mr Peng said most of these employees are ‘very good and happy’ to work on the project. “It is only very few who find excuses to cause disturbance,” he added.
He added that, “This is a very important project, so we are careful to arrange everything according to the government requirements.
“There are some National Hosting Authority (NHA) officers who stay on site every day and they know the true story.
National Hosting Authority Chair, Dr Jimmy Rodgers said he is not aware of any $20 per hour rate announcement by the Solomon Islands Government for local workers.
“Currently there is no government rate at $20 per hour,” he said.
BY CHARLES KADAMANA
