21
Oct
BEIJING: The Ebola outbreak has endangered the safety of about 40,000 Chinese workers in Africa.
It has also begun to disrupt Chinese companies operating in parts of west Africa most seriously affected by the disease.
The Chinese embassy in Liberia said it was concerned about the safety of 1,500 workers engaged in projects being implemented by companies from China. The official Xinhua news agency said citing Chinese commercial counsellor Xiao Mingxiang that the impact of the epidemic on Chinese companies has gradually surfaced.
In Sierra Leone, eight Chinese medical workers have been quarantined even as health experts grapple with ethical questions about the use of experimental drugs to combat the virus.
Chinese construction companies have moved vast numbers of workers from their home countries because they do not want to deal with politically motivated trade unions in African locations and also because of communication problems between Chinese engineers and foreign workers.
“Chinese construction companies usually avoid dealing with local trade unions in overseas projects. This is why they often transport Chinese workers at high cost,” Kan Wang, assistant professor at the state-run China Institute of Industrial Relations said.
Xiao said Chinese workers face low risks because of strict protective measures the Chinese companies have put in place.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/china/Ebola-threatens-Chinese-workers-investments-in-Africa/articleshow/44873080.cms