Pan Paper Guest house workers complain of poor working conditions

Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2012-01-12 11:54:00 Read 307 Times

Above a worker at the Webuye Pan Paper Guest House restaurant, the workers fear losing their jobs over what they term as change of management and poor pay. [Photos/ Rosemary Wachiye] The number of workers complaining about poor working conditions and poor pay at the Webuye Pan Paper Guest House is growing amidst fears of being left jobless after the coming in of a new management from the pan Paper factory. Nine Workers who sought anonymity disclosed to West Fm with claims that they have been mistreated by their Indian boss Mr. Faruk Achi Deen who took over the management of the hotel after the death of his father, Mr. Hanif Deen in December 2010. Most workers claim to have served at the restaurant since 2003, others as early as 1998 when it was started and they expressed their concern over the changes in management that have affected their working conditions. They claimed that when Pan Paper factory was in full operation under previous management, before its closure in 2009 the working conditions in the restaurant were good, they used to have one and a half day off each week, they would get leave of 21 days a year and would work from 8.00am to 12.00 noon break for lunch then report back at 2.00 pm up to 5.00pm each day. Currently, those workers claim to get no off and leave and if they ask for one they would not be paid for the time out of work. If one is late for work regardless of the time the person reported to work, it’s regarded as half day and the person will be paid half the salary meant for that day. They no longer have tea breaks and lunch breaks, they sometimes work over time but it’s not counted. They claimed to get a less pay of Sh.130 to others getting as low as Sh.90 per day leaving out the off days. They expressed their fear of losing their employment when the restaurant will be handed over to the Pan Paper factory management that is currently under receivership of the long term lenders as the government is putting in efforts to revive it back to normalcy. Inside sources revealed that Pan Paper Guest house restaurant was to be handed over to the factory’s management on 25th November 2011 but was postponed and will take place on 20th January 2012. However, the Manager at the restaurant Mr. Faruk Deen didn’t see the reason as to their complains stating that he had done them a favor by letting them work in his restaurant and wondered why they had not complained all the years they had worked there. “They should be grateful to me for the opportunity I gave them, I paid them even when there were no guests and to me that is good will,” said Mr. Faruk. He confirmed that he will be handing over the restaurant to Pan Paper Factory management on 20th of January 2012 but refused to comment on whether the employees will be retained at the restaurant after he has handed over management of the restaurant.