BWI Mission visits the Mega Highway Project Bar - Boljare on 6 of April 2017 in Montenegro to discuss about working conditions in the 43-km priority section (Smokovac – Matesevo) for which the Chinese EXIM Bank provided a loan of 800 Million Euro to the Government of Montenegro.
The main contractor is the China Bridge and Road Corporation (CBRC) and the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC).
60% of the section are bridges and tunnels and the starting point is at the altitude pf 70 meters and highest point is at 1070 meters.
There are 1000 Chinese and 400 national workers on site and the number will increase in the peak of the works to 2500 workers. A minimum of only 30% of national workers shall be employed on site by the agreement between the Transport Ministry and the Chinese Company.
The delegation led by Ambet Yuson, BWI General Secretary and Nenad Markovic, president of the Trade Union of Construction and Industry of Building Materials of Montenegro – SGIGMCG discussed with the Minister of Transport and Maritime Affairs, the general director of Monteput (Client) and the management of CBRC about possibilities for cooperation in the field of training on occupational health and safety and improvement of working conditions.
The BWI will continue supporting the SGIGMCG organizing campaign in big infrastructure projects, as part of the support to the activities of the Trade Union Infrastructure Network in SEE. Collective bargaining agreements concluded between BWI affiliates in Kenya and Ghana and CBRC were shared with the SGIGMCG and the unions in SEE. The SGIGMCG is signatory to the national Collective Bargaining Agreement for the construction sector.
A follow up meeting between the SGIGMCG and the CBRC has been agreed to discuss practical steps of the cooperation.
.