Workers Rally Outside Abyssinia Steel Mills Eldoret, Demand Unpaid Wages and Fair Employment Practices

For the past six days, a section of workers at Abyssinia Steel Mills in Eldoret have been staging peaceful demonstrations outside the company premises, pressing for the prompt disbursement of their delayed salaries.

Nyagaka Seme, a seasoned employee with a tenure dating back to 2015, voices the collective discontent, citing a history of perceived injustices in the company’s employment practices.

“Every three to five years, workers are coerced into signing fresh contracts, seemingly designed to circumvent the provision of permanent and pensionable terms,” laments Seme.

Highlighting the gravity of the situation, over 60 workers engaged in the production sector affirm that they have not received their rightful wages since March of the current year, alongside accrued benefits owed to them over preceding years. The recent hiatus in operations, attributed to a two-month closure for routine maintenance, has exacerbated the predicament, leading to diminished production owing to shortages in raw materials.

Compounding their grievances, the workers allege that despite regular deductions from their salaries for statutory obligations such as taxes (KRA), healthcare (NHIF), and pension schemes (NSSF), the company has failed to remit these amounts as required by law. Expressing their resolve, the workers have lodged formal complaints at the Soy Police Station and are adamantly continuing their peaceful demonstrations until all outstanding dues are settled.

In light of these unfolding events, the workers earnestly implore the intervention of the Minister of Labour to address the prevailing injustices and ensure the safeguarding of their rights.