A team of Polish workers on the Aberdeen bypass has been left enraged after their weekly pay was held up in the run up to the Easter weekend.
It is said to be the latest wage delay of many to affect the workforce of fixers and joiners who have been contracted through TM Civil Engineering to help build the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR).
One worker, who did not wish to be named, said his pay was now two weeks behind.
He added this meant many of the workers would struggle to make it home to Poland for the Easter weekend, which is a major holiday in the country and even rivals Christmas.
He said their weekly wages had been held on a number of occasions this year – often by one or two weeks, and often longer.
The contractors work between 50 and 55 hours per week on the north and central sections of the bypass.
The worker added: “We are not getting paid and then we are getting paid late. Easter is coming, there is 50 of us here. It has been going on for three months. It is coming a week late, or two weeks late.
“We get paid every Friday. We are working a government job. Right now they are two weeks behind with my wages.
“We have families and we have to feed our families and pay taxes up here. We are not getting the money. It has got like that the last three months.
“All 50 of us are Polish. It (Easter) is a big holiday for us. All of us, we are angry. All of us want to get our money.”
A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “The contractor employs a number of subcontractors to support the delivery of the AWPR/B-T (Balmedie to Tipperty) project and is committed to prompt payment and mutually beneficial relationships with its supply chain partners.
“We have been assured by the contractor that it always meets its obligations for payment for work undertaken and works closely with its supply chain to ensure payments are made in a timely manner.”
A spokesman from TM Civil Engineering declined to comment last night.