The China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited and the Georgian government must protect the labor rights of truck drivers working on the Rikoti Pass, who have been on strike for three days.
The truck drivers are demanding improvement of their working conditions and adequate remuneration from China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited, which is building the freeway. The drivers, who have been on strike since April 18, say that they work nine hours per day and are paid a 33 GEL daily rate (approximately 13 USD).
According to the workers, the job requires driving 12-ton vehicles on the Chumateleti-Khevi section of the Rikoti Pass, which is considered the most difficult section of the pass. As drivers note, working on this section of the pass is difficult and life-threatening. Vehicle traffic was prohibited on this section last week due to landslides.
Speaking to a television station, one striking driver noted that normal safety procedures are not being observed during construction work, an allegation which company has denied. (See here for previous labor inspection reports on the China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited)
The striking drivers are demanding that the company:
- Pay a decent daily wage commensurate with the difficulty of the work
- Comply with Georgian law regarding limits on daily working hours
A statement recently issued by the company claims the drivers’ labor contracts are in full compliance with Georgian law. However, if that is the case, the Fair Labor Platform believes it is clear that the contracts are not being effectively enforced.
Eight-hour workdays, the enforcement of safety standards at high-risk workplaces and decent pay are basic labor rights guaranteed by Georgian legislation, which must be fulfilled immediately. Nevertheless, negotiations with the company failed today, despite the efforts of the drivers.
Given the context of the dispute, we believe the government has a responsibility to act immediately to ensure that the drivers’ labor rights are protected. Principles 4 and 6 of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights indicate that the state has an elevated duty to protect against human rights abuses by enterprises that receive state support or with which the state enters into commercial transactions.
The Fair Labor Platform will provide legal advice to drivers, and calls on:
- The employer to immediately ensure that the basic labor requirements of the striking drivers are met;
- The Labor Inspection Service to investigate the working conditions of the drivers and issue mandatory instructions for the company to comply with;
- The Government of Georgia to ensure that companies implementing road infrastructure works fully comply with national labor laws.
This statement is endorsed by the following member organizations of the Fair Labor Platform:
- Open Society Foundation Georgia (OSGF)
- Social Justice Center
- Georgian Association of Young Lawyers (GYLA)
- Tbilisi Metropolitan Independent Trade Union – “Ertoba 2013”
