Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
Kenyan tea pickers who worked on a farm owned by one of the world’s largest tea producers are suing the company, saying poor working conditions have led to severe health issues such as spinal damage.
Seven male and female employees of James Finlay Kenya Ltd — which produces tea for the multinational tea brand Finlays — are suing the company in personal injury court in Scotland, the BBC reported.
The tea pickers allege they have suffered severe health problems because of poor working conditions on farms run by James Finlay Kenya Ltd.
Their advocate in Kenya, Isaac Okero, told the BBC they suffered long-term injuries on account of the years of service to the tea company in Kenya under poor conditions.
“They have suffered severe degenerative injuries which have severely impacted on their lives,” he said. “These injuries are both physical and mental.”
The workers — both men and women — are seeking damages of £15,000 each, and hope to push their employer to improve the working conditions for others.
“These proceedings should result in substantial improvements in the terms and conditions of the employees still picking tea and hopefully bring to an end the prospect of more Kenyan workers suffering severe and long-term injuries in the way that these seven workers have,” Okero said.
The company is headquartered in London but still has its registered office address in Aberdeen, leaving it open to legal action in Scotland’s courts.
The seven workers are represented by personal injury specialist David Short, from Edinburgh firm Balfour and Manson, the BBC reported.
Finlays is defending against the allegations, and has mounted legal challenges to prevent the tea pickers’ legal team from seeing the working conditions on their farms in Kenya.
In a statement to the BBC, a spokesperson said its tea growing and processing business in the Kericho and Bomet counties employed about 8,000 people directly and further workers indirectly, delivering “significant economic benefit to the region”.
Do you think James Finlay Kenya is liable for the health of their workers? Do you drink Finlays tea? Let us know in the comments below.
Check back daily for the most recent U.K. class action lawsuit and consumer protection news.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
Top Class Actions is a Proud Member of the American Bar Association
LEGAL INFORMATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
©2008 – 2024 Top Class Actions® LLC
Various Trademarks held by their respective owners
This website is not intended for viewing or usage by European Union citizens.
