Workers at a soap and detergent manufacturing firm in Nairobi have voiced distressing claims regarding labour exploitation, financial manipulation, unsafe working conditions, and harassment allegedly perpetrated within the establishment.
The firm in question, Hanse Impex Company Limited, is a registered Kenyan company operating out of Nairobi, known for producing household detergents, disinfectants, and a variety of home and personal care products sold under the brand name Ever Fresh, among others.
While the company’s products are widely stocked across supermarkets in Nairobi and it maintains operations that include private label manufacturing, importation of raw materials, and export of finished goods to markets such as Uganda, employees have accused the management of falling short in upholding fundamental labour standards within its local operations.
According to a submission made to this outlet, employees contend that they are being systematically underpaid, with casual workers allegedly receiving wages far below the lawful minimum, even as the official records presented to the company’s owner are said to misrepresent the actual payments made.
It has been alleged that payslips are manipulated to create an impression of compliance, while in reality, workers report receiving substantially less than what is indicated.
Staff further claim that those who seek clarification on their wages or raise concerns about workplace injustices are often met with threats of dismissal or subjected to intimidation by supervisors and contractors on site.
The grievances also extend to the absence of adequate protective measures, with employees working around hazardous chemicals without being provided with necessary safety equipment, a situation they describe as putting their health at considerable risk.
In the wake of these reported challenges, workers have appealed for urgent intervention, stating that the situation has become untenable and that their basic rights and welfare continue to be disregarded.
“Hi Nyakundi. Kindly hide my identity. There is a company called Hanse Impex, located along ICD Road inside Atlantis Business Park, Block D22. It manufactures soap and detergents. The company owner believes that permanent staff are given salary advances, but in reality, no advances are provided. Our salaries are very low. Casual workers are supposed to be paid Ksh750 per day, but the contractor only pays Ksh 500. If you try to question the payment, you risk immediate dismissal, and workers are harassed inside the company. They even print two sets of payslips. When the company owner visits, they are shown a payslip reflecting Ksh750, while the real payslip showing Ksh500 is hidden to mislead the owner into believing we are paid correctly. We are pleading for help because the mistreatment has become unbearable. We are also exposed to harmful chemicals without any protective equipment being provided, putting our health at serious risk.”
