PERMANENT Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation and the Office of the Prime Minister Audrey Sewell Wednesday evening convened a meeting with the management of China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), the National Works Agency (NWA) and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security Collette Roberts Risden and her team.

CHEC was represented by chief Executive Officer Dr Zhimin Hu and the NWA by Managing Director EG Hunter.

A Jamaica House release said the meeting was called to discuss the current work stoppage on the Mandela Highway Improvement Project, which is being done under Government’s Major Infrastructure Development Programme.

The release said that during the meeting, Government officials noted that no formal complaint had been made to the Ministry of Labour of a dispute between the workers and CHEC. However, resolution of the matter is necessary in the national interest.

Government officials subsequently requested information on rates paid to workers and whether CHEC has been complying with industry standards.

CHEC assured the meeting that rates are paid based on industry standards. CHEC officials also noted that work on the Mandela Improvement Project continues even though approximately 20 drivers were “not operating in a normal fashion”.

The management of CHEC assured the meeting that it will continue its work to ensure that the December deadline for the completion of the Mandela Highway project is met.

The Government, in the meantime, promised to continue monitoring the situation.