Workers at reputable eye care provider ' Baus Optical ' have raised serious concerns regarding what they describe as harassment, overwork, and unjust treatment under the company's management.
The company reportedly led by Asian expatriates alongside senior Kenyan managers is facing serious allegations regarding its treatment of employees. Baus Optical’s workers report ongoing harassment and overwork, calling for action from regulatory bodies as legal cases mount over mistreatment.
According to some workers, the company has been accused of imposing long working hours without compensation, exerting undue pressure on staff, and even executing summary dismissals without proper procedure.
There are also claims that management has purportedly used its connections to evade accountability, despite ongoing grievances.
Baus Optical, which operates a network of over 27 branches across the country is considered a well-established player in the retail and dispensing of eye care products and services.
The company, which generates substantial daily revenue, sees a considerable portion of its profits coming from its two prominent branches located in Nairobi's Hilton Building but there are claims from employees suggesting that despite these profits, the company has engaged in tax evasion, with some workers even being arrested for the non-payment of operating licences.
These issues have sparked concerns, particularly as some of the cases have already made their way into the courts, with more expected legal actions pending.
Employees are now demanding immediate action and intervention from both government agencies and relevant regulatory bodies to address the alleged mistreatment and exploitation.
They are calling for the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, along with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), to conduct thorough investigations into the company’s labor practices and its alleged tax evasion activities while also urging the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) to ensure that the company adheres to health and safety regulations, particularly in light of reports indicating inadequate workplace conditions and the failure to provide necessary protections for staff.
The workers are also requesting the intervention of trade unions such as the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) to offer legal and advocacy support and ensure their voices are heard and their rights upheld. "Hello Cyprian. I need your help. Baus Optical Company under management of a Chinese MD Chen and GM Kevin Xu together with a Kenyan Operations Manager Maurice Mkalha Kyalo, have been for the past few months been harassing staff, overworking them without pay and even unfair summary dismissals. They have claimed they can’t be taken anywhere as they have links. The company makes millions on a daily basis especially their 2 branches at the Hilton building, making hundreds of millions on a monthly basis. Regardless of making such profits they’ve been evading taxes, even recently arrested some of the staff as they had not paid operating licences. Kindly help bring management of this Chinese-owned company to book, some of the cases are in court and more are coming up to express their experiences at the company."