Smollan Kenya Limited, a retail solutions agency, has come under intense scrutiny for its alleged exploitation of workers and failure to pay their employees.
The company, which has been providing services for Unilever Kenya, is facing multiple complaints from its brand promoters and merchandisers who claim they have been subjected to systemic abuse, delayed payments, and poor working conditions.
In May 2024, a group of brand promoters, working under the Golden Marketing agency, revealed that they had not received their wages since 2022.
This unsettling revelation exposed a deep-rooted problem that many workers have been quietly enduring.
Now, fresh complaints are surfacing, with workers accusing Smollan Kenya of unfair treatment, including withholding salaries, offering minimal career advancement opportunities, and promoting based on favoritism rather than merit.
Some workers have alleged that instead of promotions being based on performance or seniority, they are instead determined by who a person knows within the company.
The reliance on nepotism rather than a fair and transparent process for promotions has left many feeling demoralized and stuck in stagnant positions.
As if that weren’t bad enough, employees have also reported that their allowances, which were previously a small relief to help cover transport costs, have been drastically reduced or entirely eliminated.
A former employee, who chose to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, shared their frustrations with a local journalist.
They explained how, under the previous leadership, they had been given a fare allowance of Ksh 5,000, but this allowance was removed without notice after a change in management.
Despite the change, the company’s upper management continues to enjoy lavish benefits, including luxury cars, while the workers struggle to make ends meet.
The former employee also mentioned that even though Unilever Kenya allocates a budget for merchandisers, the company appears to have made cuts to this budget without consulting or informing the staff.
When employees raised questions about the missing allowances, they were reportedly ignored or dismissed.
Workers who asked to meet with representatives from Unilever, the client, were also allegedly met with resistance, further fueling frustration and mistrust.
The situation has led to widespread demoralization among the merchandisers. According to the anonymous whistleblower, morale within the company is at an all-time low, with workers no longer motivated to carry out their duties due to the lack of fair treatment.
This toxic environment has created a chasm between the company’s management and the staff, as employees feel undervalued and exploited.
While Smollan Kenya may attempt to deflect blame or downplay these complaints, the growing number of reports of unpaid wages, reduced allowances, and unjust career advancement practices cannot be ignored.
This is not a case of isolated incidents, but rather a pattern of exploitation that has been ongoing for years.
Unilever Kenya, as Smollan’s client, may also come under scrutiny for its failure to address these serious allegations, as it too has been a party to these problematic practices.
The disturbing reports from Smollan Kenya workers paint a picture of a company that has put profits and personal benefits ahead of the welfare of its employees.
As more workers come forward with their grievances, it is clear that the company must be held accountable for its treatment of its workforce.
Without transparency, fair pay, and equal opportunities for all, Smollan Kenya risks further tarnishing its reputation and the trust of the workers who have dedicated their time and effort to their projects.
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