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Cement company workers go on strike

FUHEIS - Labour Ministry officials on Monday said negotiations between representatives from the Jordan Cement Factories Company (JCFC) and the General Trade Union of Construction Workers reached a stalemate, forcing the ministry to refer the case to the labour court.

Yesterday, around 1,300 JCFC employees from its Fuheis and Rashadiyeh branches as well as the company's administrative staff staged a work stoppage, demanding increased benefits.

According to the union, their demands include a JD40 raise on their basic monthly salaries, a JD40 increase in the cost of living allowance as well as an extra JD5 in their annual increment.

The workers also want the company to reduce weekly working hours from 42.5 to 40, raise their housing loans to JD25,000, and increase their share in the company's profits from 4 to 6 per cent.

According to the company's official records, revenue for the first nine months of the year stand at JD48 million.

Also on the workers' list of demands was a JD5,000 car loan, which only managers are eligible for, according to the workers,

Labour Ministry Secretary General Majed Habashneh, who supervised the negotiations, said the company offered the workers a JD20 raise in their monthly salary and an additional JD10 in their cost of living allowance.

"After extensive efforts by the ministry, the JCFC management also agreed to increase the workers' share of profits by 0.5 per cent and raise housing loans by JD3,000," Habashneh told The Jordan Times on Monday.

He said the ministry insisted that the union call for an end to the work stoppage as it was illegal.

"Under the Labour Law, the Labour Ministry must be informed 14 days ahead of any intended strike," Habashneh said, adding that the union pledged to the ministry in writing to end the work suspension.

Mahmoud Hiyari, president of the union, told The Jordan Times that he will call on the workers to end their strike and await the ruling of the labour court, which is expected to examine their case on Wednesday.

Cement dealer Ahmad Atiyat said the construction sector witnesses a dip in winter and demand on cement typically decreases during this time. If the strike goes on, however, it could constitute a crisis in the sector, he stressed.

According to the Labour Law, workers who start illegal strikes are subject to fines amounting JD50 for the first day and JD5 for each subsequent day. The law also gives the Labour Minister the right to dismantle any union orchestrating an illegal strike.

According to the Labour Law, the court should make a ruling within 30 days from the date of reference. During this period, any work suspension by the workers will be against the law.

By Hani Hazaimeh

© Jordan Times 2007