The Editor, Sir:

I am writing in response to your article in The Sunday Gleaner (May 20th) 'No better no deh'.

As a Jamaican Chinese, I could not believe that conditions in some Chinese wholesales were so deplorable and decided that I would investigate these facts which these girls said they were subjected to.

I did not have to do much investigation since your article was being heatedly discussed at our deacons meeting of the Chinese Christian Church. They are all wholesalers.

Here are some facts:

Each has kept within the labour laws in weekly salaries. ($3,200 per week - 40 hours).

After a year, they give their workers two weeks leave plus one day off per week.

Some of them give lunch money.

Lunch time is given according to what was agreed at the time of employment.

Overtime is $120 per hour.

Many of these wholesalers do agree there are some Asians (not Chinese) who do treat their workers unjustly.

All of our deacons are aware of the Jamaican labour laws and abide by them. The employers even go out of their way to be kind to their workers and have a good relationship with them.

It is unfortunate that the lop-sided study conducted by student Ann-Murray Brown and Sunday Gleaner writer Avia Collinder has done such an injustice to the majority of our law-abiding Chinese community.

I would be happy to share contact numbers of some of these law-abiding Chinese wholesalers who are willing to be interviewed.

I am, etc.,

LINDA LOWE

llowe@cwjamaica.com

33 Border Ave.,

Kingston 19

Via Go-Jamaica