Hungry Chinese guest workers' march on Minsk
Police detained 60 Chinese nationals near the town of Pruzhany. They were returned to the village of Shcharova where they had worked throughout the whole summer. The guest workers were given free food and were told to wait for the founder of a foreign enterprise who was supposed to bring the Chinese their pay. Last summer, Belarusians learned about the Chinese enterprise Shenian who began growing vegetables in the village of Shcharchova near Pruzhany. Legends were rumored in the area that 100 Chinese workers allegedly picked good harvests, making $800 per month.
Several days ago, the police detained 60 Chinese nationals near Pruzhany. They had taken off for a walking trip to the Belarusian capital and covered almost 30 km on foot, because they had no money for a public bus. In fact, they had no money at all and they wanted to tell about their rodeal to the Chinease ambassador in Minsk so that he bully the management of the Shenian company that had delayed salaries for months.
The local authorities convinced the Chinese to return to Shcharova where Chinese diplomats and the Belarusian management of the enterprise had arrived. The conflict has been resolved now, says Shenian commercial director Uladzimir Yarameeyeu. Founder Sung Lee Yu is expected to fetch the money. To prevent to the Chinese from starving to death, they are given free foor, while waiting for the money from the founder.
The enterprise sold vegetables throughout the summer at market spots in Brest, Kobryn and Pruzhany, but Shenian is loss-making, according to Uladzimir Yaraneeyeu.
"There is nothing to boast about yet. Currently, the operation is loss-making. I am not aware if they (the Chinese) are willing to leave. If people wish to leave, they are always free to do so. I don't peep into their pockets, and I am not aware of the payment conditions", says Uladzimir Yarameeyu.
It is surprising that a commercial director has no idea how much people earn at his enterprise. Shenian's secretary says that salaries the Chinese workers are paid directly from China -- not through the company's accounting office.
Local authorities have denied comments on the situation, while the phone of the only translator Anton replies with the following ring tone:
"Oh, my little baby…"
Photo by Vechenry Brest and Yandex. Cards
Several days ago, the police detained 60 Chinese nationals near Pruzhany. They had taken off for a walking trip to the Belarusian capital and covered almost 30 km on foot, because they had no money for a public bus. In fact, they had no money at all and they wanted to tell about their rodeal to the Chinease ambassador in Minsk so that he bully the management of the Shenian company that had delayed salaries for months.
The local authorities convinced the Chinese to return to Shcharova where Chinese diplomats and the Belarusian management of the enterprise had arrived. The conflict has been resolved now, says Shenian commercial director Uladzimir Yarameeyeu. Founder Sung Lee Yu is expected to fetch the money. To prevent to the Chinese from starving to death, they are given free foor, while waiting for the money from the founder.
The enterprise sold vegetables throughout the summer at market spots in Brest, Kobryn and Pruzhany, but Shenian is loss-making, according to Uladzimir Yaraneeyeu.
"There is nothing to boast about yet. Currently, the operation is loss-making. I am not aware if they (the Chinese) are willing to leave. If people wish to leave, they are always free to do so. I don't peep into their pockets, and I am not aware of the payment conditions", says Uladzimir Yarameeyu.
It is surprising that a commercial director has no idea how much people earn at his enterprise. Shenian's secretary says that salaries the Chinese workers are paid directly from China -- not through the company's accounting office.
Local authorities have denied comments on the situation, while the phone of the only translator Anton replies with the following ring tone:
"Oh, my little baby…"
Photo by Vechenry Brest and Yandex. Cards
