Employers’ lobby urges caution as Kenyans resume work

By Steve Umidha

The Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) has urged Kenyans to react with caution after the President’s State of the nation speech on the roadmap to easing restrictions.

President Uhuru Kenyatta in a national address on Saturday announced a raft of restriction renewals aimed at virus containment even as the cases continue to rise on a daily basis.

But for many in the Capital, life has swiftly returned to normal, giving the rest of the country a glimpse of what to expect in the coming days as employers and employees alike embrace the virus at work places.

“As we return to work, companies should develop a work plan that includes steps to be taken to organize a safe and healthy return to work. This plan should be part of the business continuity plan,” said the Chief executive of FKE Jacqueline Mugo in an interview with Business Hub.

The suspension had pushed many businesses to near-bankruptcy, but as some measures such as reduction of the number of curfew hours and gradual reopening of some towns, many are preparing for a rebound in production, with the employers’ body urging restraint.

“Employers should also conduct a risk assessment to establish the safety preventive and control measures in place and those needed to determine the safe return to work, unless that is done, we risk escalating the virus at work places,” said Ms. Mugo.

The harsh toll the outbreak took on people’s lives also appears to be easing, judging by the huge traffic witnessed across major roads in Nairobi, signaling a bursting return to work by Kenyans – most of whom are battling a devastating cash crunch period, albeit with a renewed hope following easing of such restrictions.

“I think Kenyans have embraced it (coronavirus) and are willing to take the risk at work places,” commented John Ogilla, a real estate consultant living and working in Nairobi, he believes some vital offices such as lands office in Upper Hill, could reopen for normal business working hours.

“But as that is done, I believe caution should be observed otherwise we could find ourselves in grave danger again,” he said.

With the new guidelines and protocols on business continuity and recovery, the employers’ body has further warned employers to prepare themselves for any eventuality that could mean working for sustained months while on pay cuts among other impacts brought by the virus.

“Even as employers support the protocols and guidelines on safety and health issued by the Ministry of Health, the economic impact will have a long-lasting effect,” said Ms. Mugo.

Various company CEOs last month said the challenging environment brought by the coronavirus pandemic would force players in key sectors in the travel and industrial sectors to strategically combine to reduce expenses and improve their operations.

Going forward even after the virus is fully contained, prospective consolidation, restructuring and mergers in those sectors will be on the table and will create a cascading effect and prompt other sectors to rethink their strategic priorities in the long term.