This archive report was first published on 15 July 2020.
As the country slowly recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, Kenya's flower sector is showing signs of revival. According to the Kenya Plantations and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU), over 85% of the workforce has returned to work after three months of unpaid leave.
Published on July 15, 2020, the union reported that the remaining workforce is on unpaid leave, with hopes that things will stabilize in the coming weeks.
Not a single worker in the sector has lost their job due to the pandemic, thanks to agreements entered into by KPAWU with flower farmers. The union's secretary general in Naivasha, Ferdinand Juma, revealed that they had negotiated with farmers to ensure no worker would be sent home.
“Currently 85 percent of our workforce are back in the farms as majority had been sent home on normal leave or unpaid leave at the height of the pandemic,” Juma said.
However, the sector still faces significant challenges, including the high cost of cargo flight charges. The union has engaged the government on this issue, hoping for a resolution soon.
Addressing the press in Naivasha, the union defended COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli against allegations that he has abandoned workers and joined politics. The union argued that trade unions have a history of engaging in politics to protect their interests, and Atwoli is on the right track.
