Striking China Railways Seventh Group employees return to work

Patrick Okello, commissioner for labour talking to Cui Yun , and other managers of the China Railways Seventh Group at Kyebando after a meeting. Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba

Striking employees at the China Railways Seventh Group (CRSG), a road construction company in Kampala, have resumed work after it promised to increase their wages.

Over 400 workers decided to lay down their tools on Tuesday, citing a number of issues including poor pay, which paralyzed work at their site offices in Kyebando, Kawempe division and on the various ongoing projects in the city.

In a statement issued on Thursday, following an eight-hour meeting on Wednesday with officials from the ministry of gender, labour and community development, the company agreed to increase wages for its workers with effect from the month of January.

The commissioner for labour, Patrick Okello Okello, said during the meeting, it was resolved that workers' conditions be improved and that complaints of harassment and mistreatment be investigated.

He said management agreed to meet all the demands of the workers.

CRSG was one of the companies contracted by Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to undertake major road works in the city.

The Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago and Kawempe division mayor, Emmanuel Sserunjogi were some of the leaders who visited the site and talked to the striking workers.

The leaders later took part in negotiating for the workers' pay increment and improvement of their working conditions.

 The CRSG country director, Cui Yun, appealed to the employees to resume work and pledged to open up dialogue between management and workers. He pledged to further consider increasing salaries up to 70%.

It was also resolved that workers receive pay through the bank, as opposed to the usual cash payments.

It was agreed that the review be implemented in accordance with the human resource manual.