By LARA PICKFORD-GORDON Monday, October 19 2009

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Chinese labourer Lin Yuan Qing, 31, displays a sign reading "me should see a doctor at once" on Saturday at Ramsaran Trace, Cunupia, where Chinese wor...

The sight of several Chinese workers sitting on the pavement on Henry Street, Port-of-Spain evoked a lot of curiosity. They caused traffic to slow down as motorists cruised by staring and trying to figure out what was happening. Many inquired or speculated aloud but the Guard and Emergency Branch (GEB) officer directed traffic and ordered them to move along. He even buffed some for not minding their business.

There were also the unsolicited comments which Trinis are known to make. “Time for allyuh Chinee to go home,” “Send them back,” and more disturbing was a comment from a truck driver who felt compelled to shout, “Dem Chinee is a waste of time. Beat them.” These comments were probably fuelled by the anti-Chinese labourer ‘coming to take away jobs from locals’ sentiment expressed by trade unions. The Chinese workers have a reputation for completing jobs in a timely manner and working long and hard. They are viewed by some as the solution to getting a project completed within budget and on time. Chinese workers are responsible for the Prime Minister’s residence and the Diplomatic Centre. They are working on the Academy of Performing Arts in Port-of-Spain, which is to be ready for the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting next month.

The protesting Chinese workers wanted outstanding wages and to return home. Their employer, the Beijing Liujian Corporation had another view. The workers were not owed any money. They were required to pay two months’ deposit before coming to Trinidad and not entitled to a refund if they did not complete the contract. I was surprised by the decision to protest since such action would not be tolerated in their homeland, and to do so here was an embarrassment to the contractor and by extension the Chinese government. I suspect the senior officials of the company were very upset by the unwanted attention and this was why they did not care to provide the workers with even water while they waited for hours at the Immigration office. The officers from the GEB were in riot gear, prepared for anything and it was so absurd since the Chinese apart from running away didn’t look like they could put up much of a fight. From what I witnessed on Henry Street, the GEB officers were not unkind or harsh in dealing with the Chinese despite the fact that our officers could not speak their language. Can you imagine our state resources being used to beat foreign workers for protesting?

Government agencies are hiring foreign contractors but who safeguards the interest of the foreign worker in TT? Is the concern only that a project is completed within budget and on time. The death of a colleague at the Tranquillity Government Primary last month was not forgotten and the workers gestured to show how they were still haunted by this event. The protesting workers looked haggard. Long hours of manual labour in the sweltering heat (and we locals bawl for the heat) and a diet of mainly boiled food—rice, vegetable, chicken can whittle the body. I hear the Chinese are losing weight. Then they have to withstand mosquito bites and try and not get dengue. It was quite daring of them to protest for what they believe was their just due. You had to admire their tenacity in sticking together to get their cause heard by their Embassy and they did so without noise or placards.

President-General of the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union visited the workers’ Chaguanas dwelling and remarked that this is not how it is supposed to be in Trinidad. He likened their conditions to “slavery.” Other unions have joined in condemning the treatment of the workers. A man at the site, who appeared to be a supervisor tried to respond to the union leader and as if to explain things said, “we are Chinese.” I suspect what he was trying to say was that conditions were not so bad and were in fact the norm for Chinese workers. In other words they are accustomed to cramped conditions, and poor ventilation.

Union leader Ancil Roget had to remind him that this was Trinidad. Maybe that was the irony, Chinese workers know drudgery but things were actually worse in Trinidad and they want to leave before completing their contract.

Labour Minister Rennie Dumas is awaiting a report on the situation from the Labour Inspectorate then a decision will be made if to intervene.