KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) and the National Workers Union (NWU) are seeking a meeting with Minister of Labour and Social Security Shahine Robinson to discuss concerns about the building and construction industry.

In a letter to the minister yesterday, the unions accused foreign contractors of ignoring benefits due to the workers in the industry, and using the advantage to under-bid local contractors for new projects.

They accused Chinese contractors of ignoring basic fringe benefits, including vacation and sick leaves and end-of-project payments, as well as refusing to observe the contractual standards set by the Joint Industrial Council (JIC) for the building and construction industry and the Labour Relations and Industrial Disputes Act (LRIDA) provision regarding trade union representation.

In their letter to the minister yesterday, the union said that they were seeking the meeting to discuss the issues, before they overwhelm the industry.

The letter was signed by BITU vice-president Alden Brown, and NWU deputy island supervisor Owen Saunderson. 

Balford Henry