Workers Cry Foul as Del Monte Cuts Working Days to Cut Costs

Workers at the Del Monte fruit processor in Murang'a County are expressing their dissatisfaction as the company begins to implement reduced working days for its casual labourers in order to reduce costs.

A memo circulated among employees stipulates that each casual worker would now work an average of 13 days per month. The production manager Mr Wayne Cook warns of the potential for further reduction, based on situational requirements. In response, the workers' spokesperson Stephen Makau has remarked that only three working days in a month are being granted, posing great difficulty for the workers. Makau explains that the workers' payslips now reflect zero shillings as their net pay, and savings are no longer feasible. Rather than staging a protest march to the company headquarters as initially planned, the workers have opted for dialogue.

On Friday, there is a meeting set to commence discussions. Workers are expressing their complaints on social media claiming that the difficult circumstances have even led some workers to resort to theft. Workers point out a situation where three female temporary employees were caught attempting to steal laundry items which led to their dismissal. Employees suggest that diversification into other crops such as macadamia nuts, avocados, French beans, bananas, sorghum, cassava, and green maize could help counteract labour complications encountered. By fully maximizing the potential of their land holdings, they believe that not only can existing jobs be preserved, but new employment opportunities can also be created.

The workers are calling for a consistent wage or a set minimum number of working days per month, no less than 18. The company has responded to labour concerns by delaying the start of the 2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which was originally planned to begin in April. Playing crucial rules in Murang'a County and throughout the country, Del Monte supports the economy by directly employing 6,500 people and indirectly employing 28,000 workers thus generating sufficient taxes.

The company is continually in conflict with local gangs that are depriving them of bananas to resell elsewhere, and this has been a consistent issue. Mr. Ngugi highlights that Del Monte is instrumental in the growth of urban areas in Murang'a South, Thika West, Ithanga Kakuzi, Kandara, and Gatanga. The company's employees contribute to the property market index through their tenancy, transactions, and small-scale investments.