Trouble is brewing at Voi Sisal Plantation in Voi sub-county after hundreds of workers threatened to down their tools for non-payment of salaries since June this year.
Mr.Richard Juma, Central Organisation of Trade Union (COTU) branch Secretary, said over 200 workers were fed up with empty promises now and then by the employer and added the next action would be a strike to paralyse the company’s operations.
Speaking to KNA on Sunday, Mr. Juma termed as inhumane the treatment the workers were receiving from the employer.
He said several attempts to engage the company to pay the workers have been futile as the employer always violated his part of the bargain.
“I have reached out to him and asked him to pay the workers. He has promised to do so several times but never keeps his word. The workers have suffered enough,” said Juma.
On Friday last week, hundreds of angry workers stormed Labour offices in Voi Town demanding the government takes action against the employer. The workers proceeded to the Deputy County Commissioner’s office where they sought audience with the DCC to address their grievances.
A meeting is scheduled for Monday for the workers, the Sisal Company, Labour office and officers from interior ministry.
A source from the labour office said the employer had promised to pay his workers soon.
“He said he was looking for money to clear the outstanding debts,” disclosed the source.
However, COTU officials dismissed the promised pay as hot air and said they would only stand down once there was money in the workers’ account.
Mr. Juma said the company has made such promises before but had failed to honour them. He also accused the labour office of handling the company with kids’ gloves even as the workers were exploited.
“The labour office seems to have taken sides. It doesn’t stand with the workers who have gone for over five months without pay,” claimed the union official.
Mr. Juma added that attempts to cow him will not work citing his arrest on Saturday last week by Voi police officers over claims of incitement. He was released without being charged after spending more than seven hours in police cells.
“They will not intimidate me. Workers’ salaries must be paid,” he said.
By Wagema Mwangi
