April 24th, 2007
Hon. G. A. Dwyer Astaphan
Minister of National Security, Immigration, Justice and Labour
Pelican Mall
Bay Road
Basseterre
Dear Minister:
 |
| Hon. Shawn Richards |
I write to bring to your attention the fact that wages for jobs which are offered to local Kittitian workers on the site of the Pogson Hospital Reconstruction Project in Sandy Point are significantly below the legal limit.
On Tuesday March 6th, 2007 the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis announced that the long awaited Pogson Hospital Reconstruction Project had officially commenced. Although some three (3) local construction companies were among the bidders for this project, the project was awarded to China Jiangsu Construction Corporation Caribbean Ltd.
Demolition work has since begun by China Jiangsu and a number of Sandy Point residents visited the job site to seek employment. Some of the persons who went to the site to look for work are young men who have been seeking jobs for more than a year and some are displaced former sugar workers.
They actually relished the opportunity to finally get a job. However, to their total shock, dismay and disappointment, they were informed by the Company that the rate of pay is $32 per day. This information I personally verified as I visited the job site and inquired of the Foreman about vacancies and the rate of pay. ~~adz:Right~~
I was informed that currently, labourers involved in the demolition process are paid $32 per day. This was disclosed to me in the presence of a young man from Sandy Point who was also at the site seeking employment.
The laws of the Federation of St. Kitts-Nevis, require that the minimum rate of pay is 6.25 per hour which equates to $50 per day or approximately $250.00 per week. However, it is normally accepted within the construction industry that labourers are paid $7.50 - $10.00 per hour or $60 to $80 per day.
The persons currently working at the Pogson Hospital Site as labourers are working from 7:30am to 5:30pm with two hours assigned for lunch at $32 per day. Hence, they are working eight (8) hours per day. This would therefore equate to $4.00 per hour. You would agree that this is below the minimum wage rate of $6.25 per hour and certainly far below the average wage rate within the construction sector.
