• Naivasha has more than50 flower farms.
• Farmers complaining over harsh economic times.
Image: FILE
Anxiety has gripped Naivasha's the floriculture sector after more than 300 workers from one of the largestarms were sent home for participating in a strike last December.
The 320 workers from Bohemian flower farm (formerly Oserian) were issued with summary dismissal letters for allegedly participating in a strike.
The Department of Labour called the sacking illegal and against the law. It said farm management had been summoned over the firing.
The workers, including senior managers and subordinate staff, were sent home in December last year after going on strike to protest against low salaries and poor working conditions.
Workers' leader Eric Zakayo said the group was first suspended in December last year, before being issued with summary dismissal letters last week.
He termed the move unfair, adding the legal requirements were not followed as all the 320 workers had missed out on their benefits.
“The management of the farm is using last year’s strike to illegally send workers home and we have not been given an opportunity to defend ourselves,” he said on Friday.
Chairman of Fair Trade in the farm Justus Obiri called on the Fair Trade International, which requested the farm to intervene as workers were suffering.
He termed the sacking unfair, adding that many families that relied on the workers had been affected. while the management did not give them a chance to defend themselves.
“We are appealing to Fair Trade International to come to the rescue of of workers who are working under harsh conditions while earning peanuts,” he said.
Naivasha Labour Officer Margaret Obegi admitted that the sacking was unprocedural and violated labour laws, adding that the management had been summoned.
She said that the issues of working conditions and wages had been raised before. She said the farm's staff turnover rate was worrying.
“The labour laws were not followed during the sacking of the workers and we have summoned the management so that we can resolve this issue,” she said.
Samuel Otieno from the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU) who said the workers were not members of any union and did not have any payroll number as required by law.
“We are demanding justice for the workers as the dismissal was illegal by the management that refused to recognise any union,” he said.
Contacted by phone, one of the senior managers said that they could not offer any information as the issue was being handled by the Department of Labour.
(Edited by V. Graham)