Four workers who suffered cadmium poisoning after working for battery maker Gold Peak Industries yesterday failed again to meet their former employer. The workers were seeking talks on compensation with Victor Lo Chung-wing, who is also an executive councillor. The four are among at least 13 victims who suffered cadmium poisoning while working for the GP Batteries factory in Huizhou two years ago. More than 300 other workers were found to have high levels of cadmium in their bodies. Gold Peak issued a one-off subsidy of between 3,000 and 8,000 yuan to the workers, saying they had voluntarily terminated their work contracts afterwards. But the workers said the subsidy barely covered their medical fees of 10,000 yuan a year on average, adding that their former employer had verbally agreed to cover their long-term medical expenses. Cadmium poisoning can be lethal as the metal is a carcinogen that can remain in the body for decades. More than 300 of the workers filed claims to Huizhou courts for compensation of 250,000 yuan each, but failed earlier this year. The four workers, all women who spent more than 2,000 yuan each to travel to Hong Kong, arrived at the Gold Peak headquarters in Kwai Chung yesterday with 30 local protesters but were faced by a closed gate. They demanded a meeting with Mr Lo, but were unable to see him. He refused to meet the workers in January and March. Gold Peak issued a statement last night denouncing the protesters' actions, saying they had ignored the court ruling and the spirit of the rule of law by asking for further compensation. May Wong Yuet-mei, representing the workers who staged yesterday's protest, said they would continue to try to meet Mr Lo but admitted they had never called Gold Peak's headquarters to try to make an appointment.