The ministry of labour has drawn its weight to support the mechanization of tea picking by multi-national tea companies. Labour and Social Protection cabinet secretary Simon Chelugui said the ministry cannot fight technological advancement. The CS, who visited tea estates in Kericho, however said in its introduction, caution should be taken to preserve the livelihood of the people and interest of all workers should be safeguarded. Chelugui said the tea sector contributed to the national GDP and estimated to employ about 200,000 workers and over two million indirectly and over the years the mechanization in tea estates has been rising steadily in the country leading to replacement of manual labour, as a way of cutting labour costs and cost of production. Thousands of tea workers in Kericho and Bomet counties have lost their jobs resulting from mechanization of tea picking.
Kericho governor Paul Chepkwony said Finlays has been progressive and evolving in technology, which they support, but however called for the jobs lost to mechanization to be transferred elsewhere. His Bomet counterpart Hillary Barchok said they have worked closely with Finlays in many CSR activities which has changed lives in the two counties and as they will support as county government so that they can continue doing business. The CS and the governors were speaking in Kericho during the official launch of Finlays’ Community Trust, an entity charged with the responsibility of working with the community in identifying their development needs.