Over 300 flower farm workers protest illegal sacking, petition for their reinstatement

Naivasha, Saturday, May 13, 2023

KNA   by Erastus Gichohi

Bohemian flower Farm in Naivasha has laid-off over 300 workers for allegedly engaging in a protest last year, demanding better pay and working conditions. 

The move has seen the local labor officials issue summons to the Farm management, to unlock the impasse, after the workers termed their sacking as illegal. 

According to the workers, the Farm has terminated their work agreement, after placing them under investigation for allegedly engaging in a strike in December last year, protesting improved working terms and conditions. 

The 320 workers who were on Permanent and Pensionable terms said that they have been receiving half of their monthly pay, throughout the five months they were under investigation and we were abruptly issued with termination letters, without being granted a right of reply. 

Bohemian Flower Company formerly Oserian, has been fingered by Union officials for exposing its workers to poor working conditions and failing to pay their workers, as per the government's set salary frameworks. 

The Farm located near the geothermal well fields, within the Olkaria area, is also on government and labor unions' radar, for failing to sign agreed Collective Bargaining Agreements(CBA) with their over 1,000 workers, as calls for strict action heat up. 

Naivasha Labor Officer, Margaret Obegi, who had a sitting with the distressed workers, termed their sacking as illegal, as the Farm failed to follow the existing labor laws, noting that she has summoned its management, to unblock the stalemate. 

Obegi said her office has received numerous complaints from the Farm workers touching on poor remuneration and poor working conditions, adding that she is committed to ensuring an amicable solution is achieved in time.

“Every organization must follow the laid down labor laws, before taking any action on their workers and Bohenian is no exemption”, she said.  

Speaking to the press, the affected worker's Chair, Eric Zakayo, said that the Farm has taken illegal action to issue termination letters to all the 320 workers, as the laid down disciplinary procedures and labor laws were not followed. 

Zakayo said the Farm has also failed to remit their remaining dues and benefits accrued since December last year, adding that any calls for a meeting with the Farm management have been dismissed before. 

Zakayo called on the Labor Office to mediate the impasse, noting that the sacked workers have been exposed to harsh economic conditions and are unable to meet their family's daily needs. 

According to Samuel Otieno from Kenya Planters and Agricultural Workers Union ( KPAWU), the Bohemian Flower Farm has dismissed calls to join the Union, to enable their workers to negotiate for better pay and working conditions. 

Otieno fingered the Farm for failing also to issue payroll numbers to their workers, which have denied their workers the chance to accrue work benefits recognized by Labor Laws. 

“The Government should intervene on this issue to ensure workers' rights are protected and guaranteed and necessary action, should be taken for any official, found abusing their powers,” said Otieno. 

Fair Trade Representative, Justus Oberi, welcomed the mediation talks with labor officials, to resolve the pending issues.

Oberi cautioned the flower Farm that the organization which certifies local and international farms will take necessary action, if the workers are not reinstated as their current sacking is illegal. 

This comes after the latest reports that some of the locally based flower farms have placed their workers on contracts, as a way of cushioning them from a huge financial burden to the industry, which was heavily battered by the adverse effects of the Covid pandemic.  

Naivasha which is home to more than 50 flower farms, has seen its population grow and the local economy improve, with the industry employing thousands of workers from across the country. 

The farms have in the past petitioned the government to review the high power rates, which have exposed them to huge running costs, a move that has seen several farms relocate to the neighboring country of Ethiopia, where power tariffs are said to be lower. 

According to the Kenya Flower Council, the Industry has also embarked on shipping their flowers through the sea to cushion them from high air freight charges and a lack of enough cargo planes.

According to the Council data, Kenya's flower export earnings, stood at Sh. 90 billion for the year 2022, with the country exporting 15,000 tons of the cut flowers, majorly to the European Union, which accounts for 70 percent of the export.

The data places cut flowers as one of the leading country foreign exchange earners alongside tea, diaspora remittances, and tourism. 

The Council Chief Executive Officer, Clement Tulezi, has in the past said the Industry targets to transport 50 percent of the cargo, majorly destined for European nations by sea by the year 2030.

Courtesy; K.N.A