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Trans Nzoia Casual Workers End Strike Threat Following County Labor Office’s Intervention

 


More than 500 casual workers at the County government of Trans Nzoia have put off their strike notice after the county labour office intervened and facilitated negotiations between the conflicting parties.

The workers, represented by the Kenya County Government Workers Union (KCGWU), had given the county government a 21-day strike notice. Their demands included transitioning all casual workers to permanent and pensionable employment terms, among other issues.

 “We have put the strike notice on hold to allow for the implementation of the recommendations from the reconciliation process facilitated by the county labor office.” said Mr Juma Kiboi, the chairman of the workers' union.

The casual workers brought several grievances on the table including long-term employment without conversion to permanent status, lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), underpayment, excessive workloads, harassment by senior officers, and discrimination in the workplace.

“We also raised concerns about the county’s recruitment practices, which favor external candidates over qualified casuals who have the necessary experience,” said William Katila, the union’s coordinator of shop stewards.

The County Government committed that the ongoing staff rationalization exercise expected to end by the end of September 2024 will involve a suitability test designed to ensure that employees are properly placed in their respective roles.

The county administration condemned the harassment of casual workers and pledged to take disciplinary action against those responsible. Meanwhile, the County Public Service Board confirmed that promotion and suitability tests have been paused due to the ongoing staff rationalization process.

The county labour officer Toffick Nalianya recommended that the casual workers be converted to permanent and pensionable positions in accordance with Section 37 of The Employment Act, 2007.

The County Secretary has been instructed to update the status of casual employees by October 15, 2024, ensure payments align with Legal Notice No. 125 of 2022, and provide annual leave as required by law.

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