Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has expressed his displeasure over reports of employee mistreatment at the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).
Speaking during an interview with KTN News, Atwoli divulged that as the labour union's boss, he had written a letter to President Uhuru Kenyatta urging him to address the issue with the relevant Chinese authorities since SGR is his flagship program.
The COTU leader also divulged that he intends to reach out to the Chinese authorities on the accusations held against their nationals.
"As the Labour union, we have also written to the Ministry of Labour seeking to have the CS look at the circumstances under which Kenyans are being treated by the Chinese," Atwoli stated.
[caption caption="President Uhuru Kenyatta together with his deputy William Ruto during the launch of SGR"]
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He further explained that the Ministry of Labour commissioners ought to carry out an extensive investigation on the matter.
"Labour commissioners are tasked to prosecute unfair employers who mistreat employees, and that is what should happen. We have a very capable Labour Court for such purposes.
"Workers are protected by law. No investors can come to our country and create their own laws that end up mistreating workers like those I heard from SGR workers," Atwoli exclaimed
Additionally, the COTU boss called on Interior CS Fred Matiang'i to protect Kenyan workers against aggression and mistreatment from foreign investors.
However, he expressed his disappointment on the "kind of agreement Kenya signed with the investors of the railway," adding that he did not see the agreement nor the terms in which Kenyans were to work under once employed at the firm.
His sentiments come after Kenya Railways gave SGR a 72-hour ultimatum to issue a clear record on racism and local staff mistreatment reports.
The directive instructed the China Bridge and Road Corporation to submit a report after local dailies exposed foreign employees mistreating Kenyan staff.
On Monday, Kenya Railways initiated an independent probe on a report that sparked uproar over the manner in which Chines staff was running the railway line and Madaraka Express.
[caption caption="Kenya's Madaraka express staff "]
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