A group of former employees of Nairobi-based retail company Forever Trendy have come forward with a troubling account of mistreatment, revealing that after dedicating years of their lives to the company, they were abruptly terminated in July 2024 on the grounds of financial difficulties, only to be left without their terminal benefits and subjected to a series of broken promises by management.
The affected workers, who had been with the company for varying periods, received termination letters dated July 31, 2024, signed by Director Wilfred Gathu, which stated that the company was downsizing due to "current economic conditions" and offered an extra month's salary as compensation.
More than a year later, that compensation, along with other dues, has yet to be paid, and the company is also accused of failing to remit statutory deductions such as NHIF and SHA that were routinely deducted from employees' salaries during their employment.
Their attempts to follow up on the unpaid dues have reportedly been met with empty promises and dismissive responses from management, leaving dozens of workers feeling frustrated and helpless.
The termination letter itself offers a glimpse into the company's approach, framing the dismissal as a necessary response to financial challenges while assuring the employees that the decision was not a reflection of their work performance.
The unpaid terminal benefits and the failure to remit statutory deductions are serious violations of Kenya's employment laws, which require employers to pay all dues owed to employees upon termination and to ensure that all statutory contributions are made on time.
This exposes a troubling pattern where employers use financial difficulties as a convenient excuse to avoid paying what they owe, leaving workers without recourse and forcing them to navigate a complex and often inaccessible legal system.
Companies that operate in this manner not only violate the law but also undermine the trust and goodwill of their workers, many of whom have dedicated years of their lives to building the business.
The failure to pay terminal benefits is a form of wage theft that has devastating consequences for workers and their families, who are often left without income and forced to rely on meagre savings or support from relatives.
Affected victims are now calling on the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the National Employment Authority, and the relevant parliamentary committees to intervene and compel Forever Trendy to settle all outstanding dues, warning that if the company continues to evade its obligations, they will have no choice but to escalate the matter to the Employment and Labour Relations Court.
"Hi Nyakundi. Hide my ID. I am a former Forever Trendy employee, and I am reaching out over unpaid terminal dues and statutory deductions following our termination in July 2024, when the company cited financial difficulties and promised us an extra month salary as compensation. More than a year later, we have not received the promised compensation or other outstanding dues, while deductions made from our salaries, including NHIF and SHA contributions, were not remitted. Whenever we reach out to management to ask about our money, we are taken in circles and given promises that are never fulfilled, leaving us with no clear answer on when we will finally be paid."
