The Kenya Export, Floriculture, Horticulture and Allied Workers Union (KEFHAU) has decried rising cases of casualization of labor in the sector.
The union is accusing some employers mainly in the flower sector of using the Covid-19 pandemic to terminate workers’ contracts and turn them into seasonal employees.
This emerged when the union held its nationwide elections in Naivasha where new members were elected into office with promise to work closely with employers.
According to the union secretary-general Issah Wafula, the casualization of labor had seen terms of conditions for hundreds of workers changed.
He termed the development as a bad precedent noting that the workers were at the mercy of middle-men who were keen on profit margins.
“We have seen an emerging trend where employers are outsourcing labor and this has a negative effect on both the workers and the union,” he said.
Addressing the press after the hotly contested elections, Wafula at the same time challenged the Ministry of Labor to intensify their monthly inspections in the farms.
He noted that cases of low wages and effects of chemicals were still rife adversely affecting tens of the workers.
“We are keen to work with employers in this sector which is critical for the country and move away from the archaic practices,” he said.
On his part, the coming KEFHAU chairman, Peter Pallang’a noted that the pandemic had affected both the employers and employees in the sector.
He said that they were keen to work amicably with the employers while cushioning the workers who for years had been oppressed.
“Despite the pandemic we need to review the workers’ terms and conditions of payment and this can be resolved by amending the archaic labor laws,” he said.
Pallang’a said that the union was keen to avoid demonstrations and court battles with employers terming them as expensive and a waste of man hours.
“Many workers mainly in the flowers and fruits farms have not been recruited into any union and these are the people we are targeting,” he said.
The union treasurer Bernard Mukhaisi noted that for years the employees’ salaries had stagnated despite the high profit that farmers were making from their sales in the EU market.
“We don’t want to be confrontational but we are keen to work amicably with the employers to address the grievances facing the workers,” he said.