Workers Expose Exploitation in Skewed Subcontracting Deal Between Platinum Outsourcing and AGL Kenya

Employees contracted under Platinum Outsourcing & Logistics (EA) Ltd have come forward to expose what they describe as widespread exploitation and misrepresentation within operations linked to Africa Global Logistics (AGL Kenya Limited) and companies they serve, including East African Breweries Limited (EABL), Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), CFAO Mobility Kenya, among several other clients. Workers under Platinum Outsourcing & Logistics disclose misrepresentation and unfair treatment while performing duties for AGL Kenya Limited and its contracting partners.

The complaints reveal a complex employment structure in which workers appear publicly as AGL staff through uniforms and branding, while legally holding contracts with Platinum Outsourcing. Exploitation Workers say this arrangement creates confusion for both staff and clients, contributes to delayed pay, inconsistent welfare provisions, and a lack of job security, and obscures the true nature of their employment, leaving them vulnerable to short-term contracts, low wages, and sudden termination with limited recourse.

AGL Kenya Limited, formerly Bolloré Transport & Logistics, rebranded in 2023 following acquisition by the MSC Group, is a major multimodal logistics operator in East Africa.

With over 1,500 employees across 14 sites in Kenya and operations in Mombasa, Nairobi, and Kisumu, AGL provides integrated port, maritime, and warehousing solutions, offering freight forwarding, customs clearance, and cargo handling for sectors ranging from coffee exports to automotive and general cargo.

The company manages logistics hubs, including a five-acre property in Mombasa, and operates joint ventures, such as with Yusen Logistics, to strengthen supply chains across the region.

While AGL presents itself as a professional, large-scale logistics operator capable of end-to-end solutions, the experiences reported by workers suggest that the human resources framework, particularly for outsourced staff, does not reflect the company’s public image or ensure accountability and welfare for all workers.

Platinum Outsourcing & Logistics (EA) Ltd, headquartered in Nairobi’s Kilimani Estate, is a privately held company established in 2010 that specializes in HR outsourcing, logistics, transportation, and warehousing services.

Operating in over 21 counties with a workforce between 1,000 and 5,000 employees, Platinum serves a wide range of clients, including B.A.T. Kenya and Del Monte, providing tailored staffing solutions, payroll administration, factory support, and pre-employment screening.

Workers under Platinum contracts claim that although they are deployed to perform critical duties for AGL and its clients, their legal employment remains with Platinum, which controls pay, contracts, and welfare provisions.

Employees argue that this structure, while designed to optimize operations and reduce costs, has created an opaque environment where accountability is limited and workers’ rights are undermined. Salary Concerns and Welfare Disparity Staff members describe short-term contracts that can be as brief as two months, leaving them with minimal job security while performing the same duties as formally employed AGL staff.

Delays in salary payments are common, and workers report spending more on transport than they earn in a day, a burden that affects both morale and productivity.

Beyond pay, the quality of meals and welfare provision is also problematic.

Contracted staff report receiving poorly prepared meals from outsourced canteens, which contrasts sharply with the better-quality food provided to internal staff.

Reports include hard or undercooked ugali, yellowed vegetables, and kidney meat of questionable origin, with some employees developing stomach ailments requiring medical attention.

Workers argue that if operational safety and standards are enforced rigorously to meet corporate targets, similar care should be applied to their well-being, as nutrition and welfare directly…

Employees contracted under Platinum Outsourcing & Logistics (EA) Ltd have come forward to expose what they describe as widespread exploitation and misrepresentation within operations linked to Africa Global Logistics (AGL Kenya Limited) and companies they serve, including East African Breweries Limited (EABL), Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), CFAO Mobility Kenya, among several other clients. Workers under Platinum Outsourcing & Logistics disclose misrepresentation and unfair treatment while performing duties for AGL Kenya Limited and its contracting partners.

The complaints reveal a complex employment structure in which workers appear publicly as AGL staff through uniforms and branding, while legally holding contracts with Platinum Outsourcing. Exploitation Workers say this arrangement creates confusion for both staff and clients, contributes to delayed pay, inconsistent welfare provisions, and a lack of job security, and obscures the true nature of their employment, leaving them vulnerable to short-term contracts, low wages, and sudden termination with limited recourse.

AGL Kenya Limited, formerly Bolloré Transport & Logistics, rebranded in 2023 following acquisition by the MSC Group, is a major multimodal logistics operator in East Africa.

With over 1,500 employees across 14 sites in Kenya and operations in Mombasa, Nairobi, and Kisumu, AGL provides integrated port, maritime, and warehousing solutions, offering freight forwarding, customs clearance, and cargo handling for sectors ranging from coffee exports to automotive and general cargo.

The company manages logistics hubs, including a five-acre property in Mombasa, and operates joint ventures, such as with Yusen Logistics, to strengthen supply chains across the region.

While AGL presents itself as a professional, large-scale logistics operator capable of end-to-end solutions, the experiences reported by workers suggest that the human resources framework, particularly for outsourced staff, does not reflect the company’s public image or ensure accountability and welfare for all workers.

Platinum Outsourcing & Logistics (EA) Ltd, headquartered in Nairobi’s Kilimani Estate, is a privately held company established in 2010 that specializes in HR outsourcing, logistics, transportation, and warehousing services.

Operating in over 21 counties with a workforce between 1,000 and 5,000 employees, Platinum serves a wide range of clients, including B.A.T. Kenya and Del Monte, providing tailored staffing solutions, payroll administration, factory support, and pre-employment screening.

Workers under Platinum contracts claim that although they are deployed to perform critical duties for AGL and its clients, their legal employment remains with Platinum, which controls pay, contracts, and welfare provisions.

Employees argue that this structure, while designed to optimize operations and reduce costs, has created an opaque environment where accountability is limited and workers’ rights are undermined. Salary Concerns and Welfare Disparity Staff members describe short-term contracts that can be as brief as two months, leaving them with minimal job security while performing the same duties as formally employed AGL staff.

Delays in salary payments are common, and workers report spending more on transport than they earn in a day, a burden that affects both morale and productivity.

Beyond pay, the quality of meals and welfare provision is also problematic.

Contracted staff report receiving poorly prepared meals from outsourced canteens, which contrasts sharply with the better-quality food provided to internal staff.

Reports include hard or undercooked ugali, yellowed vegetables, and kidney meat of questionable origin, with some employees developing stomach ailments requiring medical attention.

Workers argue that if operational safety and standards are enforced rigorously to meet corporate targets, similar care should be applied to their well-being, as nutrition and welfare directly…