Over 30,000 sugar companies workers issue strike notice over Ksh.10.8B unpaid salary arrears

Kenya Union of Sugar Plantation and Allied Workers (KUSPAW) General Secretary Francis Wangara says the government had committed to release a partial payment of Ksh.4 billion before December, including Ksh.1.9 billion in salary arrears that was to be paid by the end of November.

Speaking in Kisumu, Wangara said the government remains obligated to settle the workers’ arrears, even after the sugar mills were leased to private investors under the ongoing reform programme.

He accused the Ministry of Agriculture and senior government officials of making repeated assurances on the payments, none of which have been honoured.

As a result, the union has issued a strike notice effective Thursday next week, directing workers in all four sugar companies to down their tools until the outstanding amounts are paid and reflected in their accounts.