KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Ministry of Labour and Social Secuity (MLSS) is hoping to finalise consultations on the crucial issue of payment of a 16 per cent end of project bonus, to construction workers on projects being handled by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), by today Tuesday, May 28.

The ministry wrote to trade unions representing the construction workers – the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) and the National Workers Union (NWU) – on May 22, seeking more time to complete consultations on the matter which is threatening industrial harmony in the industry.

The ministry last met the parties on April 30, when an understanding was reached that it would make a decision “on the way forward” in bringing an amicable closure to the issue.

However, at the time of writing the unions last week, the ministry admitted that it still was not in a position to bring closure to the dispute which has prolonged since mid-2012.

“We are still advising ourselves regarding certain key areas concerning the nature of the dispute and the impact on the wider construction industry,” the ministry said, adding that, in light of this, “we are forced to request of the unions, additional time until May 28, 2013- the latest- to finalise our consultations”.

A dispute has been brewing between CHEC and the two unions, which jointly represent all unionised construction sites, since the completion of the Rio Grande Bridge in St Margaret’s Bay, Portland, last October and CHEC refused to pay the end-of-project bonus.

However, as the bridge was already completed, it was too late for the unions to take any action against the contractor, but they have made it an issue on other sites since. Currently, there are fears that if it is not settled early, it could affect the North South link of Highway 2000 later this year.

According to a Joint Industrial Council (JIC) labour agreement involving local contractors and trade unions, “Each worker will, on completion of his work on each project, be paid compensation for the loss of his employment to be known as an “End of Project Bonus”, 16 per cent paid on basic single time rate of total hours worked…”

-Balford Henry