•Particular areas are plantation fields, greenhouses and factories which predispose workers to suffer injury and occupational hazards.
•She has urged the Agricultural Employers Association (AEA) to work with the government in identifying and mitigating hazards.
The government is committed to addressing various issues facing the agricultural labour industry, Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore has said.
The Labour and Social Protection CS has particularly pointed out issues in plantation fields, greenhouses and factories which predispose workers to suffer injury and occupational hazards.
She has urged the Agricultural Employers Association (AEA) to work with the government in identifying and mitigating hazards, to reduce the risks or accidents and injuries which will lead to efficiency and improved productivity.
She said this will also improve employee relations and morale, therefore reducing costs associated with insurance, accidents or injuries.
She also noted with concern that mental illness has also become rampant at the workplace afflicting workers today.
The CS said to mitigate the emerging issues in the agricultural sector, her ministry has taken steps to empower workers through training of safety committees, inspection and enforcement of standards to protect workers.
CS Bore further revealed that to this end, the government had initiated the process towards the establishment of a 'Work Injury Social Insurance Scheme.'
This will provide for compensation of workers and their families in the unfortunate event of disability or death arising out of and in the course of employment.
She was speaking during the 60th Agricultural Employers’ (AEA) Annual Conference held in Naivasha.
The theme for this year`s conference was; “Fortifying productivity- innovate, reinvent, embrace”.
Bore also promised to operationalise and strengthen the two Wages Councils specific to the agriculture sector, that is, the Agricultural Wages Council and the Floriculture Wages Council.
The entities have not been operational due to various reasons, thus denying the government the necessary advisory on issues of terms and conditions of employment, as well as salaries and remuneration.
She observed that it was important that the two bodies and other labour boards are made operational and strengthened, to enable her ministry to effectively manage labour and the employment sector.
“It will also lead to fewer labour disputes and industrial action,” Bore said.
The CS said with the collaboration of the social partners, her ministry has a draft Wages and Remuneration Policy for Kenya, to be presented to cabinet for consideration and possible adoption.
She reiterated that the agriculture sector is the biggest employer in the country, employing over 70 per cent of the country`s workforce.
It is for this reason that the government continues to put in place measures to ensure that the growth and development of these sectors are sustainable, socially responsible and creates decent work opportunities.
Bore noted that the status of industrial relations in the country in the last four years has remained stable and calm as opposed to others.