March 27, 2008	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 18, 1429

MIANWALI, March 26: Construction work on the Chashma Nuclear Power Project (CHASNUPP-II), Chashma, remained suspended for the third consecutive day due to a complete strike of 3,000 daily wagers against contractors.

The project is being carried out with the financial and technical help of China and will generate 300 megawatt power after its completion. The ground-breaking ceremony of the project was held on April 4, 2005, and will complete in 2011.

Labourers alleged sub-contractors of CHASNUPP-II paid low wages and denied medical facilities to them. The strike has created problems for the Chinese, the main contractor of the project. The Chinese company sublet labour supply contracts to various local contractors who provide labourers to the main contractor at their own terms.

Labour leader Muhammad Altaf told Dawn the contractors received huge amounts from the Chinese but paid nuts to labourers for 14-hour a day job. One labourer is paid Rs130 to 140 per day which is quite contrary to prevailing labour laws.

He said the contractors did not pay anything to workers in case of emergency leaves and deducted some amount from their salary in name of labour welfare fund. He added they tried to apprise the Chinese engineers about their apathy but they said they refused to intervene in the matter.

Labourers vowed to continue their strike till the acceptance of their demands and urged the government to look into the matter.

The project administration and contractors talked to workers to settle the issue but all in vain. This correspondent tried to contact contractors but they refused to give any comment.