The Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA) is calling on hoteliers at the Coast to restore workers' full salaries instead of citing the impact of COVID-19.
The union's secretary for the South Coast, Mr Francis Omondi, says hoteliers should follow the terms and conditions stipulated in the common bargaining agreements (CBAs).
"Tourist hotel owners should not take the challenge of Corona as a pretext for harassing staff. So far hotels have received 90 per cent of visitors; therefore, there is no reason for staff to be paid half salaries," Mr Omondi said.
Many hotels in the Coast region had halved salaries for their workers and fired many others since mid-last year, when a slump induced by COVID-19 left the beach establishments tottering on the brink of collapse.
A sector on its knees
Kenya's hospitality industry was among the hardest hit by the pandemic, with coastal hotels — heavily dependent on international tourism — recording collapses in occupancy of up to 90 per cent at the height of travel restrictions. Thousands of workers were sent on unpaid leave, had wages cut or lost their jobs entirely as establishments struggled to stay afloat.
As global travel resumes and occupancy recovers, unions argue that the rationale for emergency wage cuts has faded, and that CBAs — legally binding agreements negotiated between unions and employer associations — must be honoured in full.
The role of CBAs
Common bargaining agreements in Kenya's hospitality sector set minimum wages, working hours, leave entitlements and other conditions. Employers who unilaterally continue pay cuts after CBAs have lapsed or been renegotiated risk disputes before the Ministry of Labour's conciliation machinery, and ultimately the courts.
Workers' plight
Hotel workers at the Coast, many of whom are breadwinners for extended families, say half salaries have made it impossible to meet rent, school fees and daily needs. Union officials say they will escalate the matter through formal dispute channels if employers fail to comply.
