Downtown wholesalers have been “receptive and co-operative” of the Ministry of Labour’s requirements for working conditions at their stores, after it was found that some circumstances under which women worked violated health and safety rules.

This is, according to technical director in the ministry, Faith Innerarity. She said the response coming out of meetings with more than 100 wholesalers has been positive.

“In fact, we have seen where some requirements we have identified for them, they have printed them in Chinese so they can understand them more fully,” Innerarity told the Sunday Observer.

The Ministry of Labour started its initial round of investigations with 42 wholesalers in February, and more recent probes into 72 different stores.

Labour inspectors have visited the establishments to check general health and safety conditions, or to examine accounts, where necessary, Innerarity said.

Checks at one downtown furniture shop revealed that at least one wholesaler had approached the operators with an order for stools. While the business operators could not say what the stools would be used for, they said the lady ‘from uppa Miss Chin’ had come to the shop several times in the last two weeks.

One of the complaints was that workers were not permitted to sit during their shifts.

The ministry is expected to conclude investigations into the working conditions at the wholesales this week, with a report of the findings to follow.

“We might not be able to release the report next week (this week), but we should be able to complete the investigation,” she said.