Luanda - The General Labor Inspectorate on Monday, in the municipality of Viana, in Luanda, suspended the civil construction company Guangxi Hydroelectric Construction Bureau, S.A, (GHCB Angola), due to precarious working conditions that put the integrity of workers.
According to the deputy inspector general of the Inspection area, Leandro Cardoso, who was speaking at the end of a visit to the site where GHCB Angola is building the “New São Paulo Commercial City Project”, as part of the second phase of the operation “Dignified Work”, the company is temporarily suspended and will have two weeks to create adequate working conditions for employees.
The recommendations are related to sleeping conditions, ensuring the acquisition of personal protective equipment and subjecting workers to periodic medical examinations.
He informed that most of the more than 2 million employees work in undignified conditions, without personal protective equipment, with dormitories that do not comply with the conditions imposed by the General Labor Law and Complementary Legislation.
There was also the issue of working hours with a high number of employees who start work at 4am and finish at 8pm, that is, above the eight hours stipulated by law.
“We also heard reports from workers who, given the precarious conditions to which they were subjected, had health problems and even two of them lost their lives”, he lamented.
The case of a 20-year-old worker, from Huíla province, who is based at the construction site and has suffered sexual harassment while carrying out her activities, was reported.
Regarding the Migration and Foreigners Service (SME), 21 foreign passports were seized, taking into account that the company was unable to prove the legality of their stay in the country due to an employment contract, as well as issues related to taxation, since none of workers is registered in the social security system.
It was ensured that the fact that the company is suspended, does not jeopardize the workers' salaries, as the suspension is for reasons beyond the control of the workers.
“These should not see their effectiveness in question and their activities should evolve normally until compliance with the guidelines issued by IGT”, he explained.
He said that IGT will monitor the development of this action with the company's management; in order to find out what mechanisms are in place to improve the current scenario, to oblige and guarantee support with the presence of safety, hygiene and health at work.
The operation works in three phases and covers the sectors of commerce, extractive and manufacturing industries, property security, mining, civil construction and public works.
IGT coordinates the operation that involves the National Social Security Institute (INSS), the General Tax Administration (AGT), the Migration and Foreigners Service (SME), the Criminal Investigation Service (SIC) and the National Police. CPM/OHA/MRA/DOJ