Dear Cyprian,
I hope this finds you well. I am an employee of one of Mohammed Jaffer's group of company Proto energy-limited or Pro gas to be precise.
They recently opened a branch in Nakuru in August 2020. We were innocently recruited and told that we would work for 3 months probation then receive a contract afterwards little did we know we were being lured to a trap. Raila's Odinga with Proto energy-limited owner Jaffer Mohammed [image courtesy] The first three months were hectic.
Reporting to work by 6:45 AM and leaving as late as 7:30 PM all this at a pay of 400 shillings with no overtime. The working conditions were very poor as we had no Personal protective equipment such as overalls and safety boots or gumboots.
We were even forced to continue filling operations inside the terminal during rainy times even though the terminal rains inside it and at times floods with water.
After the first three months August to October out hopes were high as probation was now over little did we know it was chasing the smoke.
Before the complete three months were over, we were handed a one-week 'Assessment off' to assess if we qualify for the contract.
Little did we know it was just a plot to discontinue our 3 months so that no one would claim to work for a whole 3 months and hence claim a contract as per the labour laws.
After the assessment, we were told that we are renewed casual for another 3 months probation we were gutted but had to go on. Our three months now November to January were now over, they did the same 'assessment off' prank again.
Efforts to ask for any contract have fallen on deaf ears. Our manager claiming that it was not on this year's budget hence we have to wait till 2022.
We have endured 7 months of hell. Workers have gotten injured and no one cares. You are either given permission to take yourself to the hospital at your own cost or sometimes forced to stay and work with no medical attention.
We once tried to leave work at the required time but orders were issued to the security officers to lock the gate till all the cylinders were loaded.
People left work as late as 7:45 with no overtime. We report to work from Monday to Saturday with only Sunday as an unpaid off-day.
Any day you miss to report no matter how sick you are or no matter how injured(sick off) you are unpaid.
This injustice and slavery is not going to stop anytime soon as the plant managers are all foreigners.
A Philippines international and an Indian who happens to be very rude. This is just but to mention a few of what we go through. Help us get justice.
Please. Better pay, contract and better working conditions