Kenyan workers strike due to wage dispute and automation worries
At least 11 tea factories in Kenya's Nandi county have been closed due to a continuing wage dispute between workers and farm owners. The standoff centers around a recent court ruling to increase worker salaries by 30% and the reluctance of owners to implement the order due to risks of bankruptcy. Around 10,000 small scale farmers claim they are losing approximately $3 million per week as the wage battle drags on and tea leaves remain unplucked or unprocessed. Workers are also protesting against the introduction of tea plucking machines that are expected to lower production costs by up to 75%. The latest meeting between the parties was cancelled at the 11th hour due to security concerns. Owners are now considering new hires to prevent a total collapse in output, which puts up to 50,000 positions at risk.