The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today vehemently condemned the unlawful sacking of seven members of the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) from the Nation Media Group who lost their jobs because of their involvement in the union.
According to the KUJ, there has been a systematic pattern of harassment and intimidation targeting the KUJ leadership and its members that work for the Nation Media Group. The Group not only provides poor working conditions for journalists and media workers, but has also instituted a clause in the contract of its employees that bars them from joining a trade union.
“This is a flagrant violation of the fundamental human and labour rights of the employees as guaranteed by the Kenyan Constitution and the International Labour Organisation conventions which guarantee freedom of association,” said Gabriel Baglo, Director of the IFJ Africa Office. “The right to unionise guarantees peace and social justice, and it is the right of the employees of the Nation Media Group to join or form unions if they so wish” said Baglo.
The IFJ urges the Nation Media Group management and its owner, His Highness The Aga Khan, to ensure that the rights of its journalists and media workers in Kenya and in Africa in general are fully respected and guaranteed.
Harassment, intimidation and threats of dismissal aimed at the employees must cease immediately, the IFJ said. Management should place as its priority the improvement of the working conditions of its employees and ensure that a conducive environment is created that guarantees maximum efficiency in compliance with international Labour Standards.
In solidarity with the KUJ, the IFJ calls for the immediate reinstatement of all employees that were recently sacked unjustly and illegally by the Nation Media Group management. The IFJ says that the right to unionise is a fundamental human right and, therefore, management should revoke without delay all such clauses in the employees’ contracts that violate this basic right.
For further information contact the IFJ: +221 842 01 43
The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries
