Delmonte Issue Statement on ‘Illegal’ Strike By Plantation Employees
On 6th January 2022, some of our Union employees working in the plantations went on an illegal strike without notice, claiming that we had sub-contracted a certain agriculture activity without communicating the same to them and will thus render some of them jobless.
Upon receiving the complaints, the Del Monte Kenya Limited (DMKL) management immediately held a meeting with the employees’ elected shop stewards from the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU) and clarified to them, that the contract in question, which is due to commence on 10th January 2022, will not affect any union member employees and no jobs will be lost due to this intended outsourcing.
Further, we explained to them that the 2022 labor requirements have increased compared to 2021 and as such we were forced to temporarily outsource for additional manpower through the contract, to cover the additional work.
We reiterated to them that, as per the current state of affairs, we forecast that all current permanent and additional contract workers will be fully occupied throughout the year.
We are currently in consultation with the National Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU) representatives and shop stewards to address their concerns promptly and fairly.
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