Sony Sugar workers call off strike after company pledges to pay pending salaries

Sony Sugar Company workers have called off their strike set for Monday after agreeing with the company management on terms of payment of the pending December 2018 salaries.

The workers had pledged to down their tools on Monday after a strike notice they had earlier issued to the company expired.

The workers and the management — in a memorandum released later Sunday evening signed by Kenya Union of Sugar Plantation and Allied Workers Deputy Secretary General, John Ogutu, and Sony Sugar Company Human Resources Director, Titus Ochieng — agreed that salaries of the permanent employees will be paid on January 16, 2019.

They also agreed that casual labour wages for the month of December 2018 will be paid on January 23, 2019, and that the company will issue contract labour with pay slips in line with the Employment Act No 11 of 2007 with effect from April 2019.

Speaking to Citizen Digital after releasing the memorandum, Mr. Ogutu said the union will give their members directions in case the deal is not honored.

Sony Sugar Company Managing Director, Benard Otieno, also confirmed the agreement saying the delay in payment of the December salaries was due to financial constraints at the institution.