Chinese Communication Construction Company (CCCC) casual workers in Masindi, Uganda protested delayed payment by blocking the Hoima Masindi Road with burning debris.
The workers, who hadn't been paid for two to three months, demanded their money while disrupting traffic for nearly an hour. Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd.
A foreman, Natwera Christopher, expressed concern that the unpaid workers would slow down project progress. The workers vowed to return if they were not paid by the start of the week, March 18th, 2024.
The company's public relations officer declined to comment, but police spokesperson Hakiza Julius said CCCC promised to start payments by Monday. While the workers claim longer delays, CCCC says they are only nine days behind.