Flower firm’s plan to lay off over 1,000 workers halted

A court has temporarily stopped multi-national flower firm Finlays from laying off 1,100 workers by December 25.

The Employment and Labour Relations Court yesterday ordered Finlays not to implement a notice dated October 18, in which it had announced it would close Chemirei and Tarakwet flower farms.

Justice Monica Mbaru made the order after considering an application filed by the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU), the umbrella body that represents the workers.

“Orders are hereby given setting aside the letter dated October 18 announcing the closure of Finlays Flowers Kenya Ltd farms on December 25, 2019. The orders will remain in force pending the hearing and determination of this application,” ruled Mbaru.

.

Keep Reading

• 9 causes of decreased egg production in flock
• In Kenya, livestock farming stands as a testament to tradition and resilience
• Parsley farming: How to get it right, make cash
• College students innovation converts banana residue into organic fertiliser
• Call to shift from pesticides, plastics to alternatives

The court set the hearing of the application for today at the Nakuru Law Courts.

The union moved to court on November 4 after Stephen Scott, the Finlays Flowers general manager announced that the two farms would be closed a year earlier than the company had intended to shut them.

Finlays had initially announced it would close the two farms in December 2020.

“The flower industry has been facing severe challenges in the past 18 months due to an oversupply in the European Market and decreasing demand,” said Mr. Scott, while explaining why the farms were being closed.

“Prices have remained very low.” 

.

Trending Now

• In Kenya, livestock farming stands as a testament to tradition and resilience
• 9 causes of decreased egg production in flock
• Parsley farming: How to get it right, make cash
• College students innovation converts banana residue into organic fertiliser
• Why farmers are ditching maize for fodder crops

.

Similar Articles

9 causes of decreased egg production in flock

Water is the single most important nutrient in the life of a chicken and yet one that is mostly ignored.

Livestock

By Linda Akwabi

34 minutes ago