BY EDDY NYADWA, NAIROBI. Casino employees in the country now want the the government to allow them return back to work, vowing to strictly adhere to ministry of health protocals.
In a letter to Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiangi, the Kenya Casino Employee Union says its members have remained jobless since March, when businesses were shut to curb the spread of coronavirus.
The union Secretary General Benson Luganju says their freedom from servitude and right to fair labour practices have been infringed, since other colleagues categorized under the food and liquor industry are already back to business.
“We have been rendered jobless, depressed and finincially incapacitated. We are staring a permanent job loss. ” Mr. Luganju adds that most of the casino employees have been threatened by auctioneers and lenders for failure to meet their finincial obligation.
“We are requesting the CS to consider reopening our businesses to enable us earn a living,” He says. The sector has employed more than 10,000 people and supporting the livelihood of about 30,000 individuals.
While addressing journalists on Saturday, the union officials said that the forecast a glim future for their members should the shut down continue. Despite this, they affirm that they are ready to re-open having adopted Covid-19 health protocals.
“We are ready to take Covid-19 test. At the casinos, we strictly observe social distancing and each gaming machine will be sanitized every thirty minutes and upon arrival of a new punter” Ruben Murage, the union spokesperson added.
Other guidelines they propose to adopt include spacing of slot machines 1.5 meters apart from t, temperature screening at the entrance and having shift managers to enforce compliance.
