A wave of discontent swept through Migori County on Tuesday as a section of county workers took to the streets to protest against what they termed as unfair labour practices. The workers, led by their chairman David Ogweno, claimed that the county government had suspended several employees without any lawful explanation, citing a politically motivated agenda to replace genuine workers with cronies.
The protestors, who included more than 40 employees such as 12 directors, 20 ward administrators, and 8 sub-county administrators, marched through Migori town expressing their grievances. They carried placards and chanted slogans denouncing the county government’s actions, which they believe have undermined job security for permanent and pensionable workers.
According to Ogweno, the changes have not been communicated properly to the affected employees, nor have they been justified under any legal or operational guidelines. “There is no lawful explanation for the changes. This is a political matter and we will not allow genuine workers to be replaced by cronies. The workers are permanent and pensionable,” Ogweno said, addressing the protesters outside the county offices.
The protesting workers insist that the alleged suspension of contracts is part of a broader scheme to restructure the county’s workforce without due regard for existing employment laws and worker protections. Ogweno further emphasized that such arbitrary decisions are a violation of the rights of the employees, who have served the county diligently under terms that should guarantee them job security.
However, Migori County Secretary Oscar Olima has refuted the claims, maintaining that no employee has been fired or suspended. Olima stated that the changes are part of a broader initiative to streamline service delivery within the county, which has necessitated the transfer of some workers to different roles or locations. He assured that the restructuring process has been conducted in accordance with the labor laws, and no worker has been unfairly targeted.
“We have taken into account the labor laws in the transfer of workers,” Olima said. He further noted that the objective of the streamlining exercise is to enhance efficiency in the county’s operations and improve service delivery to the residents of Migori.
Olima’s response, however, did little to assuage the concerns of the protesting workers, who continue to believe that the changes are part of a political agenda. The deputy chairperson of the workers’ group, Mark Ouma, expressed skepticism about the county government’s intentions, arguing that the transfer of employees lacks a solid basis and appears to be driven by ulterior motives.
“This is impunity and we will not allow it to happen,” Ouma said. He called for transparency and accountability from the county government, insisting that any changes to employment terms should be communicated clearly and should not infringe on the workers’ rights.
The unrest among Migori County workers highlights the tension that can arise when governmental restructuring is perceived as politically motivated or as a threat to job security. The situation underscores the need for clear communication and adherence to labor laws during such processes, to ensure that the rights of workers are protected and that any changes serve the greater good of the county’s service delivery objectives.
As the protests continue, the county government may need to engage in dialogue with the workers’ representatives to address their concerns and ensure that the streamlining efforts do not undermine the morale and stability of the workforce. Failure to do so could exacerbate tensions and potentially disrupt county operations, affecting the delivery of essential services to the people of Migori.
The workers have vowed to continue their protests until their demands are met, including the reinstatement of the affected employees and assurances that no further arbitrary changes will be made without proper consultation and legal justification.
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