Workers protest in West Darfur

Say the Chinese construction company they are employed at is treating them unfairlyWorkers of a Chinese construction company in West Darfur’s Zalingei township staged protests on Thursday against poor working conditions.Nearly 190 demonstrators protested against poor wages, working conditions, lack of contract, lack of incentives and being overworked.One of the protestors told Radio Dabanga that they had joined work at the company two years ago without any official contracts. “We have been pressing the company to move ahead on this but our efforts have gone in vain. We have also been overworked. We never get paid for the extra hourse we put in,” he said.He also complained that they would lose their salary with sick leaves. “Last year, a translator and some staff resigned due to ill-treatment by the administration of the company,” he said.The workers complained that their counterparts who have been employed from Khartoum enjoy various benefits that they don’t — like a better salary, housing and health services. “We would like to appeal to the state authorities to look into the matter and intervene in the unfair treatment meted out to us,” one of the striking workers told Radio Dabanga.