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Chaos Rocks EPZ Firms
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The Nation (Nairobi)
January 21, 2003
Posted to the web January 20, 2003
Adieri Mulaa And Peterson Githaiga
Nairobi
Textile companies forced to close as workers damage property and battle anti-riot police in wave of strikes
Chaos hit the Export Processing Zone in Athi River leaving a trail of damage as thousands of striking workers destroyed several garment factories yesterday.
Businesses in all the 16 textile factories was paralysed as the workers held demonstrations to press for better wages and terms of service.
In the afternoon, the workers raided Kitengela shopping centre and looted shops as they battled contingents of anti-riot police.
The strike, which had been simmering over the past week, caused a major industrial unrest involving more than 10,000 workers.
Machakos police chief Leo Nyongesa ordered police to lob teargas canisters in the crowds that attempted to loot Acacia Supermarket at the shopping centre.
Shopkeepers lost goods of unknown value while one kiosk owner said he lost sodas worth Sh50,000 in the commotion.
The strike occurs as the Narc Government seeks to create more jobs under the African Growth and Opportunity Act 2000 (Agoa), which sub-Saharan African countries to export duty-free textiles into the US.
At the same time, Labour minister Ahmad Khalif appointed a committee chaired by the Commissioner of Labour to seek ways of restoring order in the troubled factories.
Mr Khalif directed the committee to report its findings to him within 10 days.
Members of the committee are drawn from the Central Organisation of Trade Unions, the Federation of Kenya Employers, Kenya Association of Manufacturers, the Export Processing Zones Authority officials and representatives from the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
The strikers broke gates and smashed windows at Alltex EPZ, Nodor and Tri Star EPZ to flush out the workers who had not joined the strike and moved from factory to factory in the expansive garments manufacturing zone to ensure all the operations were paralysed.
The workers complaints included:
Lack of a medical scheme, transport at night and compensation for over work.
Non-remittance of their statutory deductions to the National Social Security Fund and the National Hospital Insurance Fund.
Sexual exploitation and harassment
No sick-offs while those who fell sick were asked to quit.
Meanwhile, the minister has directed all the strikers to resume work unconditionally and without victimisation by their employers.
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