Workers ready to sue over lay-offs by Mumias Sugar Company

Sugarcane workers have threatened to move to court over planned staff lay-off by Mumias Sugar Company.

The company's Managing Director Coutts Otolo, announced recently that the company would lay off several workers in what they termed as the ongoing restructuring process to rationalise its 1,900 employees.

The workers, through their leaders, faulted the move saying they are ready to move to court should the company make good their threat.

''Whenever companies face challenges, the first thing is to lay off staff. Mumias is witnessing  challenges, but laying off staff is not a good solution,'' said Kenya Union of Sugarcane Plantation and Allied Workers Union Secretary General Francis Wangara.

They said the company already had undergone restructuring where several members of staff were laid off to pave way for automated machines, and doing the same would affect many livelihoods.