Kenya Union of Sugar Plantation and Allied Workers v West Kenya Sugar Company Limited [2022] KEELRC 3786 (KLR)

Kenya Union of Sugar Plantation and Allied Workers v West Kenya Sugar Company Limited (Cause 14 of 2021) [2022] KEELRC 3786 (KLR) (29 July 2022) (Judgment)

Neutral citation: [2022] KEELRC 3786 (KLR)

Republic of Kenya

In the Employment and Labour Relations Court at Bungoma

Cause 14 of 2021

JW Keli, J

July 29, 2022

Between

Kenya Union of Sugar Plantation and Allied Workers

Claimant

and

West Kenya Sugar Company Limited

Respondent

Judgment

1. The court on the May 5, 2022 entered judgment for the claimant and ordered the parties to compute and file in court the payable amounts with respect to the two grievants, under paragraph 42 of the judgment, within 14 days for adoption as judgment of the court as follows:-"42. The court orders the claimant and the respondent to file tabulation of compensation under all the awards above within 14 days hereof for adoption by court failing which the court will tabulate the payable amounts and its orders will be final and in full determination of the dispute."

2. On the May 25, 2022 the parties appeared before me and sought for my ruling to clarify on some aspects of the judgment to enable them complete the computation.

3. The court considered the parties’ submissions and rendered its ruling on the July 13, 2022 and ordered the parties to file joint computation or separately in 7 days failing which the court would adopt the computation filed in court on the May 23, 2022 by the claimant.

4. On the July 26, 2022 when parties appeared before me the respondent’s counsel told the court they will adopt the tabulation filed by the claimant on May 23, 2022.

5. The claimant’s tabulation of payable amounts is as follows:-

Claimant’s Tabulation Of The Award 6. The claimant submits the following tabulations in respect to the judgment in the above case signed and delivered on the May 5, 2022. The 1stgrievant Patrick Lusimbaa)3 month compensation at CBA rate salary Kshs (27,636. 80x3)=Kshs 82,910. 40b)Notice pay of one month salary as per the CBA Kshs 27,636. 80. c)Annual leave as per the CBA, 28 day per year of servicei.In July 2013 to 31st April 2014 (10 month) the basic salary then was Kshs 19,861. Applying the formula at clause 12cDaily rate is 19,861 x 12 x 8hrs x 28 days x 10/12 Kshs 17,824. 302496ii.In May 1, 2014 to 31st April 2015 the basic salary then wasKshs 19,861. Applying the formula at clause 12cDaily rate is 21,847 x12 x 8hrs x 28 days =Kshs 23,5202496iii.In May 1, 2015 to February 5, 2016 the basic salary thenKsh 24,032. Applying the formula at clause 12 cDaily rate is 24,032 x12 x 8 hrs x 28 days x 9/12 = Kshs 19,4102496Total annual leave Kshs 60,754. 30d)Salary underpayment as from July 2013 to February 5, 2016. The grievant was paid a daily rate of kshs 358 which was the cumulatively paid on monthly basis. The underpayment is as follows:-i.July 2013 -31st April 2014 ( 10 month ) the CBA basic salary was Kshs 14,097Daily rate then was 19,861 x12 x 8hrs = Kshs 763. 902496Amount paid daily Kshs 358. 00Underpaid arrears daily Kshs (763. 90 -358) Kshs 405. 90Period July 2013 to 31st April 2014 is Kshs 405. 90 x 26 days x 10 = Kshs 105,534. 00ii.May 2014 -31st April 2015 (12 month) the CBA basic salary was Kshs 21,847. 00CBA Daily rate then was 21,847x12 x 8 hrs = Kshs 840. 302496Amount paid daily Kshs 358. 00Underpaid arrears daily Kshs (840. 30-358) = Kshs 482. 30Period May 2014 to April 2015 is Kshs 482. 30 x 26 days x12 =Kshs 150,477. 60. iii.May 2015 -February 5, 2016 (9month) the CBA basic salary then was Kshs 24,032. CBA daily rate then was 24,032x12x8hrs =Kshs 924. 302496Amount paid daily Kshs 358. 00Underpaid arrears daily Kshs (924. 30 -358) =Kshs 566. 30Period May 2015 to February 5, 2016 is Kshs 566. 30x26 daysx9=Kshs 132,514. 20The total salary arrears in respect to underpayment isKshs 388,525. 80. f)Unpaid house allowance as from July 2013 to February 5, 2016i.July 2013 to 31st April 2014 Kshs 19. 861x15% x10 month =Kshs 29,791. 50ii.May 1, 2014 to 31st April 2015 Kshs 21,847x15%x12month =Kshs 39,324. 60iii.May 1, 2015 to February 5, 2016 Ksh 24. 032x15% x 9 month = Kshs 32,443. 20Total unpaid house allowance Kshs 101,559. 30Total calculation the award for 1st grievant Kshs 661,386. 60The 3rdgrievant Wilson Imbenzi Sundwag)3 month Compensation at CBA rate cross salary Kshs (16. 211. 55x3) = Kshs 48,634. 65h)Notice pay of one month salary as per the CBA Kshs 16,211. 55i)Annual leave as per the CBA, 28 days per year of service.i)In June 2013 to 31st April 2014 the basic salary then wasKshs 14097. Applying the formula at clause 12cCBA daily rate is 14,097x12 x8hrs x28days x11/12=ksh.13,916. 302496ii)In May 1, 2014 to 31st April 2015 the basic salary then was Kshs 15. 506Applying the formula at clause 12 cDaily rate is 15,506 x12x8hrsx28days =Kshs 16,698. 802496iii)In May 1, 2015 to February 5, 2016 the basic salary then was Ksh 17,057Applying the formula at clause 12 cDaily rate is 17,057x12x8hrs x 28 days x10/12 = Kshs 15,307. 502496Total Annual leave. Ksh.45,922. 60

i. Salary Underpayment As From July 2013 To February 5, 2016. The grievant was paid a daily rate of kshs 208 which was cumulatively paid on monthly basis. The underpayment is as follows:-ii.June 2013 -31st April 2014 (11month) the CBA basic salary was Kshs 14,097CBA daily rate then was 14. 097x12x8hrs = Kshs 542. 202496Amount paid daily Kshs 208. 00Underpaid arrears on daily basis Kshs (542. 20-208. 00) =Kshs 334. 20Period June 2013 to April 2014 is KshS 334. 20x26daysx11 = Kshs 95,581. 20iii.From May 2014-31st April 2015 (12month) the CBA basic salary then was Kshs 15,506CBA daily rate then was 15,506x12x8hrs=Kshs 596. 402496Amount paid daily Kshs 208Underpaid arrears daily Kshs (596. 40-208)=Kshs 388. 40Period June 2014 to April 2015 is Kshs 388. 40x26daysx12= Kshs 121,180. 80Iv )From May 2015 -5th Feb 2016(9month) the CBA basic salary was Kshs 17,057Daily rate then was 17. 057x12x8hrs = Kshs 656. 002496Amount paid daily Kshs 208. 00Underpaid arrears daily Kshs (656. 00-208) = Kshs 448Period June 2015 to February 5, 2016 is Kshs 448x26daysx9=Kshs 104. 832The total salary arrears in respect to underpayment is Ksh.321,594

i) Unpaid house allowance as from July 2013 to February 5, 2016i.June 2013 to 31st April 2014 Kshs 14,097 x15%x11month = Kshs 23,260. 05ii.May 2014 to 31st April 2015 Kshs 15. 506 x15%x12month =Kshs 27,910. 80iii.May 2015 to February 5, 2016 kshs 17. 057x15%x 9month = Kshs 23,026. 95. Total unpaid house allowance = Kshs 74,197. 80Totalaward tabulation for the 3rd grievant Kshs506,560. 60”

7. The claimant submits that in its computation above it have factored the court’s findings that the 1st grievant Patrick Lusimba was an automotive mechanic helper while the 3rd grievant Wilson Sundwa worked as a general worker. As such the above calculations have been done on the basis of job group UC 6 and UC1 respectively and in line with the successive CBAs clause 34.

8. The court adopts the computation by the claimant, the respondent having adopted the same and enters final judgment for the claimant against the respondent as follows:-

9. 1st grievant award( Patrick Lusimba)a.Compensation award Kshs 82,910. 40b.Notice pay for 1 month salary Kshs 27,636. 80c.Accrued annual leave award of Kshs 60,754. 30d.Salary arrears underpayment Kshs 388,525. 80e.Unpaid housing allowance Kshs 101,559. 30Total award of sum of Kshs 661,386. 60 to the 1stgrievant (payable subject to statutory deductions)

10. 3rd grievant award (Wilson Imbenzi Sundwa )i.Compensation award Kshs 48,634. 65ii.Notice pay for 1 month salary Kshs 16,211. 55iii.Accrued annual leave award of Kshs 45,922. 60iv.Salary arrears underpayment Kshs 321,594/-v.Unpaid housing allowance Kshs. 74,197. 80Total award of sum of Kshs 506,560. 60 to the 3rdgrievant (payable subject to statutory deductions)

11. Interest is awarded to the claimant on the above awards (7 and 8) at court rates from date of judgment until full payment.

12. No order as to costs.

13. It is so ordered.

DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED THIS 29TH DAY OF JULY 2022 IN OPEN COURT AT BUNGOMA.JW KELI,JUDGE.IN THE PRESENCE OF:-Court Assistant:- Brenda WesongaFor Claimant:- AbsentFor Respondent: Absent