ABOUT 132 workers from a Chinese company, China Geo Engineering Corporation, are planning to go on strike following a series of grievances leveled against the employer.

The company is constructing a 60-kilometre road from Marakabei to Monontša.

Robert Mokhahlane, the Secretary General of Construction, Mining, Quarry and Allied Workers (CMQ), said among others. The workers demand salary increases, long-term contracts, decent accommodation and protected cars.

“At the moment, they are still overcrowded in the rooms,” he said.

“They also want their boss to provide them with protected vehicles because now they use trucks to transport them to work. The Labour Code clearly shows that the workers should use protected cars.”

He said another major concern was that the workers were only given three-month renewable contracts.

“They do not want their employer to get away with this practice because they feel that their jobs are not safe,” said Mr Mokhahlane.

So far, he said the exact date of the strike is yet to be set as the workers were still consulting with the relevant stake-holders.

“This intended strike has been triggered by a litany of grievances at the workplace”, Mr Mokhahlane said. “But it is going to be a lawful strike."

He said they were going to inform the employer about the intentions of employees seven days prior to the strike provided their demands were not met.

As of Tuesday this week, Mr Mokhahlane said the union was going to meet with the relevant stakeholders so that they could map the way forward for the strike to be guided by the law.

“While still on strike, we are not expecting any recruitment of new employees,” he said.