High poverty levels in Mavoko have been exploited by industries to give residents poor working conditions and wages leading them to live deplorable lives, Mavoko MP has said.
Patrick Makau said a number of companies in the region were taking advantage of the high unemployment situation to frustrate their workers.
"The level of poverty in Mavoko constituency is still high, a reason why a number of these many industrial companies in Athi River and its environs keep exploiting their employees," said the MP.
Makau who was speaking to hivisasa in Athi River town on Sunday, said various companies in the area were violating their employees' rights since there are many young men and women constituency competing for the same jobs.
"These people are desperate since there are several others in the constituency who are looking for the same positions in the industries," said Makau.
The MP claimed that majority of the workers feared to agitate for better pay and working conditions because they would be ignored and others recruited in their positions.
Makau said the workers operate under poor terms of work that include meager pay, overtime without pay, working as casuals for years without permanent employment and lack of protective gear, thereby exposing them to health risks.
"The majority of these companies poorly pay their workers, as a result lots of slums have now come up in Athi River since the employees cannot afford descent housing for their families," he lamented
Makau warned the companies against mistreating their workers and called on the government to ensure proper implementation of labour laws.