Under the argument that they want their salaries increased, tea pickers have vowed to resist attempts by multinational companies to increase the minimum number of kilogrammes of green leaf they must pluck every month.
Following an order by the Court of appeal, tea companies are to increase the minimum amount of harvest a picker should make in order to qualify for monthly salary. From 836 kilogrammes to 1,170 kg per month.
During their ruling the Court of Appeal judges Martha Koome, Alnashir Visram and Wanjiru Karanja directed that tea companies should increase the minimum number of kilograms of tea leaves workers must harvest each month.
They noted tea yields have improved, as well as leaf weight, which rendered the previous productivity rate unrealistic.
In a swift rejoinder, Kenya Tea Growers Association chief executive Apollo Kiarii said the new minimum kilogrammes green leaf the workers are required to pluck was long overdue.
However, both decisions – the one increasing salaries of the workers and the one raising kilogrammes of tea one must harvest per month – are yet to be implemented.