Workers employed through Treasure Limited, a Nairobi-based marketing and distribution agency, have raised serious grievances over their working conditions while deployed at Supa Loaf outlets across the city.
The workers allege that the subcontracting arrangement has exposed them to low wages, unexplained deductions, delayed salaries, and punitive penalties tied to Goods Received Notes (GRNs)—processes they say are largely beyond their control at retail outlets.
Treasure Limited operates across several East African markets, supplying contracted labour for sales, merchandising, and in-store promotions to major FMCG brands, including Mini Bakeries, which produces Supa Loaf from factories in Nairobi and Mombasa for nationwide distribution.
Low Pay, Long Hours, and Unclear Deductions
According to the affected workers, their earnings do not reflect the long hours, holiday shifts, and sales targets demanded of them. Several claim deductions are made from their salaries without clear explanations, leaving them demoralized and financially strained.
They say delayed or reduced pay has forced some into rent arrears, while others report going days without food, despite working within a supply chain that sustains one of Kenya’s most recognizable consumer brands.
GRN Penalties Beyond Workers’ Control
A major point of contention is the handling of Goods Received Notes, which workers say are controlled by retail outlets and delivery logistics rather than merchandisers themselves.
They allege that when GRNs are delayed or missed due to outlet access issues, delivery timing, or coordination failures, their salaries are penalized regardless of fault.
“We are not the ones who buy the bread. The bread goes to the outlets for their own benefit, yet when GRNs are delayed for reasons beyond us, deductions are made from our pay,” one worker told CourtNews.co.ke.
Workers say the practice has made their earnings unstable and unpredictable, undermining morale and basic welfare.
Workers Appeal for Review of Engagement Terms
The disgruntled staff are now calling for an urgent review of their engagement terms, seeking:
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Timely and predictable payment
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Clear and transparent rules on deductions
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Shared responsibility in GRN handling
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An end to penalties arising from outlet-level failures
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Basic worker welfare safeguards
They want both Treasure Limited and Supa Loaf’s management to institute transparent payment systems and humane labour practices that allow contracted workers to earn a stable living.
Desperation Behind the Appeal
In a message shared with this publication, one worker wrote:
“Our salaries are very low and do not match the amount of work we do. Deductions are made without explanations. When GRNs are delayed due to issues beyond our control, our salaries are affected. Some of us have been locked out of our houses. Others have slept hungry for three consecutive days. We are asking for fairness, transparency, and dignity.”
The workers say they turned to the media after internal appeals failed to yield meaningful change.
Labour Rights Questions Raised
The complaints raise broader questions about outsourced labour, supply chain accountability, and worker protection in Kenya’s FMCG sector—particularly where subcontracted staff sustain profitable brands but remain economically vulnerable.
As of publication, neither Treasure Limited nor Supa Loaf had issued a public response to the workers’ claims.