US$197,000 paid to railworkers in back wages

A measure to authorize payment of 3.5mn lempira (US$197,000) in back pay to workers at the Honduras national railway company (FCN) was approved Sunday by congress. The move was announced by Porfirio Lobo Sosa, the congress president, La Tribuna reported. Lobo Sosa added that he would continue to work to avoid the collapse of FCN, which is estimated to need US$560,000 to continue operating for the rest of the year. He added that the Congress is currently looking at various ways in which it can help solve FCN's problems. "We have defined certain priorities and will continue working to avoid the disappearance of this institution," he said. The country's railway system extends over 995km of track with the greater part being located in the Sula valley. It is mainly used to transport cargo.