The managing Director of Kenya Meat Commission which is located in Athi River, Mavoko sub-county, Machakos county, on Thursday declared that the company is releasing 114 workers before their retirement age so that it can reduce its operation cost which has been running very high.
Mr Joseph Learamo, the MD, said that the 114 workers have retired voluntarily and the company has given them full retirement benefits and pension of 3 million Kenya shillings.
"Those who have been offloaded duty should appreciate because the company sent you home fairly with all retirement benefits and pension and above all still young enough with energy to go serve people home. We are not working you in here till you are as old as 57 years or 60 years, ages that you will not be able to work in your communities, therefore we appreciate you for being with us and we also want you to appreciate us and understand we have done the best we can for you and for the company too," explained Mr Leoramo during his speech at the send-off ceremony.
Learomo said that the company had 420 workers, which was a big number for its budget and has laid off 114 of them in the fairest way possible.
The retired workers, however, identified major problems while working for the commission as long working hours with no extra wage for extra hours and no annual increments of their salaries.
"One could work for even many as 17 workers, for example, a driver summoned to work at 5am and leave work as late as 9pm and nobody pays for the extra hours," complained on behalf of the retiring workers.
"Those who have worked for twenty years still have same pay with those who have worked for one year, KMC does not recognize something called annual salary increment," complained another.