KPAWU tells firm to reinstate 28 fired workers

By ROBERT KIPLAGAT

The Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU) has given a flower company two weeks to reinstate 28 sacked workers.

Addressing fired workers, union’s Deputy General Secretary Thomas Kipkemboi said the management of the firm in Uasin Gishu subjected workers to poor working conditions and victimised them for joining unions.

"The management has been sacking workers on a weekly basis, despite the Collective Bargaining Agreement and the laws of the country being in place," said Mr Kipkemboi.

The trade unionist said some people had worked in the company’s flower farms for more than six years without employment letters, yet they were supposed to have been confirmed as permanent employees.

He said the company’s management was ignorant to the plight of workers. "The firm should employ professional human resource manager to deal directly with the workers for sound management," he said.

Should the firm fail to adhere to the notice of reinstating the workers or paying them their dues, the union said it would move to court.

Workers who spoke to The Standard said the firm subjected them to harsh working conditions and underpaid them for the last five years.

Joyce Kibet, who has been a casual worker at the farm for 10 years, said her salary had remained Sh5,000.

She said they worked without protective gear despite the risk of exposure to chemicals. "We did not have dust coats, gumboots and thorns prick our hands. We are barred from using our phones at work," she said.

The worker said their plight pushed them to join the union, but instead of their problems being addressed, they were fired.

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