Operations at Chemartim tea company has been paralyzed due to workers strike, which has entered its third day today, Tuesday 28th March 2017.
Speaking to West Media Limited through the phone, Nandi COTU Secretary Eliakim Ochieng confirmed the strike saying workers have protested demanding for leave allowances, which the company have not paid since August last year.
Ochieng cited that 150 employees of the company have not been given their annual leave thus have forced them to down their tools until their dues are fully paid.
He said the company is violating the rights of workers by not giving them leave and the law clearly states that one is entitled to an annual leave after working for Twelve months.
Another issue is that the company is not remitting their deductions for N.H.I.F to the required authorities thus workers are not benefiting from the N.H.I.F cover.
The C.O.T.U secretary insisted that workers are not ready to return to work until the company management fully assures them of their payment.
This is the second time within a period of Three months for such incident to happen after protesting workers from Kapsumbeiywo tea factory December last year burn down 70 acres of tea bushes following a pay row.
The protesters were demanding for the implementation of a 30% salary increment which saw a total of 2,000 permanent and casual workers face a sack but the worker’s union obtained orders restraining the tea companies from sacking more workers.
