Support Kenyan Garment Workers

Dear Friends,

04 Mar 2003, The Tailors and Textile Union and the Kenyan Human Rights Commission (KHRC) is requesting action in a case involving approximately 9,200 Kenyan garment workers, producing for a number of major international brands, who were fired after going on strike in January to demand better working conditions. The workers, employed at seven factories in Kenya's export processing zones, were producing for brands including Wal-Mart, Sears, and Target. The Ministry of Labor issued an order on February 11th instructing the factories to reinstate the workers and recognize the union by Monday, March 3rd. This deadline has now passed and the workers have not been reinstated. The union and the KHRC are requesting that people write letters of protest to factory management at each of the factories and to the brands that are known to be sourcing at these facilities.

BACKGROUND
(source: KHRC/Tailors and Textile Union, February 2003)

Garment workers at factories at several Kenyan export processing zones (EPZs) went on strike on January 16, 2003. A return-to-work plan was negotiated by a committee (made up of representatives of the employers, government, export processing zone authority and the workers) on January 31st. At that time a ministerial order was issued by the assistant minister for labor and human resource development stating that the need to recognize the relevant trade union; enforce statutory obligations (such as maternity, leave social security and health insurance); and conduct further investigations of any other unfair labor practices had all been successfully addressed. However, the factories listed below have acted in defiance of this directive and dismissed the striking workers. The government released another statement on February 11th instructing all the employers to reinstate their employees. A deadline of March 3rd was given. Again, the companies have ignored the government's orders and have not reinstated the workers.

ACTION REQUEST

The Kenyan garment workers urgently need support in their struggle to have their rights respected. Take action today -- please contact the factories and brand name companies listed below. The government deadline to reinstate the workers was yesterday -- please tell the companies involved know missing this deadline is unacceptable.

FACTORY CONTACT INFORMATION

1. Altex Company
P.O. Box 30500
Nairobi
Tel: +254-2- 228026/7/8
Fax: +254-2-212501
Contact person Gamini Dias

800 workers sacked

2. Indigo Garments
P.O. Box 64969
Nairobi
Tel: +254-862142-3
Fax: +254-2-822675
E-mail indigo@swiftkenya.com

1800 workers sacked
produces for Dayton Hudson (No excuses, Target, no boundaries)

3. Kentex Apparels
Export Processing Zones LTD
P.O. 64020
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254-2- 802961
Fax: +254-2- 861971
E-mail: kentex@swiftkenya.com

800 workers sacked

4. Baraka Export Processing Zones
P.O. 9959
00100
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: + 254-2-652081-89

1800 workers sacked
produces for Wal-Mart, Sears, Target

5. Sahara Stitch EPZ
P.O 43832
Nairobi, Kenya

800 workers sacked
produces for Matchpoint, Ashton

6. Eltex EPZ LTD
P.O. Box 46538
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: + 245-0150-22901/2
Fax: + 254-0150-22143

1600 workers sacked

7. Upan Wasan EPZ LTD
1600 Workers sacked
P.O Box 43832
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254-2 566052/575077/802216
Fax: +254-2-575077

Sample content for messages:

Contact factory management and tell them they must come in compliance with the Ministry of Labor's order to reinstate all the workers who were dismissed. Let them know that you believe respecting freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining are fundamental rights that should not be denied to Kenyan garment workers. Urge them to immediately recognize the trade union, engage in collective bargaining with the workers (specifically to address the issue of wage rates), to stop sexual harassment of the workforce and to ensure maternity protection for female employees, and to make production targets more reasonable. Let them know that you are contacting the overseas companies they do business with to voice your disapproval with working conditions at this facility and the firing of the striking workers.

BRAND NAME COMPANIES PRODUCING AT THESE FACILITIES

1. TARGET

Robert J. Ulrich
Cahirman and CEO
Target Corporation
1000 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55403
United States
Tel. +1-612-304-6073
Fax: +1-612-696-3731

2. WAL-MART

H. Lee Scott Jr.
Preisent and CEO
Wal-Mart
702 SW Eighth St.
Bentonville, AR 72716
United States
Tel. +1-479-273-4000
Fax: +1-479-273-1917

3. SEARS

Alan J. Lacy
Chairman and CEO
Sears, Roebuck, and Co.
3333 Beverly Rd.
Hoffman Estates, IL 60179
United States
Tel. +1-847-286-2500
Fax: +1-847-286-7829

4. Matchpoint, Inc.
1013 S. San Julian St. #B
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Tel. +1-213-745-5875
Fax: +1-213-745-5095

Sample content for messages:

Inform these companies that working conditions at the factories producing for them are currently unacceptable -- management does not respect trade union rights and has fired workers when they went on strike. Urge these companies to pressure management at the factory that produces their goods (see list above) to enforce the Ministry of Labor's order to reinstate the workers that they dismissed. Companies should not cut their contracts with the factories in question; instead they should use their influence as clients to push for improvements. Ask them to inform you of the steps they are taking to monitor the workplaces in the Kenyan EPZs that they contract with to ensure that workers' rights are respected. Remind these companies that they have a role to play in ensuring that basic workers rights such as freedom of association and collective bargaining are respected in the workplaces where their goods are made.

ADDITIONAL

One additional factory, JAR Kenya, Ltd. is also reportedly blocking unionization efforts,. However they did not fired any workers. KHRC and the Tailors and Textile Union request that letters of protest be sent, urging management at JAR to take steps to recognize the union and engage in collective bargaining negotiations with workers.

Contact information:

JAR Kenya Ltd.
P.O. Box 78788
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel. 254-2-532040-50-90
Fax: 254-2-540057
E-mail: info@jarkenya.com

The union and the KHRC are also requesting that letters be sent to the Export Processing Zones Authority, calling upon them to pressure the companies in the zones to reinstate the dismissed workers and to take steps to ensure that freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining are respected within Kenya's EPZs.

Contact information:

Albert Gumo
Export Processing Zones Authority
British American Centre 2nd Floor
Upper Hill, Mara Road
P.O Box 50563
Nairobi, Kenya.
Tel: +254-2- 2712800
Fax: +254-2- 2713704

Please send copies of your protest letters and any responses that you
receive to:

William Akech Muga
General Secretary
Tailors and Textile Union
Head Office
Consulate House Chambers
First Floor
Rescourse Rpad
P.S. Box 72076
Nairobi, Kenya

And

Kenya Human Rights Commission
Gitanga Road
Valley Arcade
Nairobi
Kenya
P.O Box 41079
Tel: (254-722) 264-497; 254-2-576063/4/5/6
Fax: 254-2-574997
E-mail: souma@khrc.or.ke