Attorney Wayne Munroe claimed yesterday that at least 50 workers on the New Providence Road Improvement Project (NPRIP) have sought his assistance in taking legal action against their Argentinian employer, Jose Cartellone Construcciones Civiles. Munroe is also the Democratic National Alliance's (DNA) candidate for Mount Moriah. He said at a press conference at his law offices on East Bay Street that the workers "have begun to put their paper work together, but if they are underpaid, [we] can start a representative action for all of them civilly".
Some workers on the project have claimed in recent weeks that they are not being fairly paid or treated by their employer and have even gone so far as to stage protests. The government's minimum wage is $210 per week, and the general minimum wage is $150. Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and Director of Works John Canton have both pointed to concerns regarding the pay of road project workers. The Nassau Guardian understands that some of the workers on the project earn $4.50 per hour while some earn slightly more.
While Public Works Minister Neko Grant was unavailable for comment yesterday, he recently pointed out that the workers who complained in the media represent a small fraction of the more than 600 workers of the NPRIP. However, he advised the workers to file a complaint with the Department of Labour if they had doubts about their pay. Additionally, he has said that the Department of Labour is mandated to investigate such matters.
Labour Minister Dion Foulkes advised in November that he had instructed his labor officer to investigate the matter, but at the time no official complaint had been filed with his department.
Foulkes, who was off the island, said yesterday that he was not aware of any pending legal action but insisted that his ministry would look into the claims, "as the Ingraham adminstration is not in the business of treating workers unfairly". Jose Cartellone Construcciones Civiles officials have remained silent on the matter.
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