Retired workers with a central China water project contractor on Sunday ended a 6-day protest over pay dispute, as the company has seemingly reached an agreement with the protestors.

The Gezhouba Dam [file photo]

Former employees of the Gezhouba Group, a major contractor for the Three Gorges Project, blocked traffic in the city of Yichang, Hubei province, on Monday, demanding hikes in their pension payments. Traffic resumed on Saturday.

A local police officer surnamed Hu said no protestors showed up on Sunday.

The retirees complained that their pension payments had not been calculated fairly. Sources with the company said employees who retired before 2006 receive a monthly payment of around 1,500 yuan (238 U.S. dollars), while those who retired after 2006 enjoy a monthly payment of over 3,000 yuan.

The protestors, mostly aged between 60 and 70, have also complained about unreasonable terms in the company's medical care policy and excessive water and electricity fees charged by the company.

According to Ding Yanzhang, general manager of Gezhouba Group, after investigations, meetings and negotiations with the protestors, the company promised that pension subsidies will be given to the workers before the end of June, and it has also agreed to provide preferential measures regarding medical care and subsidies on water and electricity fees.

Headquartered in Yichang, the Gezhouba Group was the sole contractor of the Gezhouba Project, which built the first dam on the Yangtze River.

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