Government Demands Answers After Mass Firing of Fairmont Hotel Workers

The government, through the office of the Attorney-General, has written to the management of hotel chain, Fairmont seeking answers to its decision to fire all employees of two of its establishments in Kenya.

The sacking of all workers attached to Fairmont The Norfolk Hotel and Fairmont Mara Safari Club was announced on Thursday by Country General Manager Mehdi Morad. This was after the hotel chain shut down the two facilities citing effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the hotel business.

“Due to the uncertainty of when and how the impact of the global pandemic will result in the business picking up in the near future, we are left with no option but to close down the business indefinitely,” said Morad in a memo.

He added: “It is, therefore, the decision of the management to terminate the services of all its employees due to ‘frustration’ by way of mutual separation and taking into account the loyalty and dedication the employees have put into the success of our company in the previous years.”

Morad said affected employees will be served with termination letters by June 5th, adding that they are entitled to a one month’s pay as well as their pension.

Due to financial constraints, he said, the hotel chain will not be able to meet other employee demands.

In a letter to Morad on Friday, the office of the AG directed the management of Fairmont to justify its decision to send the workers packing.

The AG’s office said it received numerous complaints from the affected workers lamenting lack of due process and violation of their employment rights.

“This matter is of public importance and great concern to the Government and in view of the Attorney General’s mandate to promote, protect and uphold the rule of law and defend the public interest, this Office should be very grateful if you would provide it with clarification regarding the said media reports and complaints from employees, including on the veracity thereof and the justification for the taking of such action, if this is the case,” the letter signed by Solicitor General Kennedy Ogeto reads.

“As you would appreciate, such a decision, if taken, would have far-reaching implications on the well-being of many households and indeed, the Kenyan economy in general. This is therefore a matter of profound public interest, in respect of which this Office demands a response. We look forward to hearing from you, promptly.”