Chinese contractor comes under fire

GOVERNMENT has threatened to close the China Jiaxing operarions, the contractor constructing the new Mulungushi convention centre, for failure to adhere to safety measures. And Government is displeased with the ill treatment of workers by the contractor. Ministry of Labour and Social Security Permanent Secretary, Chanda Kaziya, gave the contractor a two-week ultimatum to ensure safety measures were adhered to or face closure. Mr Kaziya said it was saddening that the contractor working on the multi-million project had failed to observe safety of the workers. Mr Kaziya said the contractor should provide safety boots and clothes in accordance with the law to avoid posing a danger to the workers. He said yesterday when he toured the project that the contractor must ensure that the required necessities were provided in two weeks’ time or the government would be compelled to shut down the operations. Mr Kaziya said Government cannot allow the contractor to put the lives of workers at risk just because they were in dire need of jobs. “Yes we appreciate what the Chinese government is doing for us, you are helping us a lot especially in terms of infrastructure development and other things but you are again mistreating our people. “As government we cannot allow you to continue mistreating Zambians just because they need these jobs. And Mr Kaziya was also unhappy with the poor sanitation conditions at the workers’ place of lodging and he urged the contractor to correct the situation as workers needed to spend nights in a conducive environment.