Growing concern is emerging among workers contracted to serve as Swap Station Agents for Spiro Kenya through Flexi Personnel Ltd, as several agents report ongoing challenges that are affecting their safety, income, and overall wellbeing.
The workers say the problems have persisted for months and have left many of them feeling neglected and uncertain about their future.
According to multiple sources familiar with the situation, agents working at swap stations are required to handle heavy motorcycle batteries as part of their daily duties.
These batteries reportedly weigh about 50 kilograms, yet workers say they are not provided with proper protective gear or safety equipment.
As a result, many agents experience physical strain, back pain, and fear of long-term health complications. The lack of basic safety measures has raised serious questions about how worker welfare is being handled at the operational level.
Beyond the physical demands of the job, salary delays have become a major source of frustration.
Several agents claim they have worked for weeks or even months without receiving their pay.
For workers who rely on their wages to meet daily needs such as rent, food, and transport, these delays have caused serious financial pressure.
Some agents say the process of salary payment is unclear and complicated, making it difficult to know when or how they will be paid.
More troubling are allegations that workers are required to pay money in order for their salaries to be processed.
This payment is reportedly presented as an HR requirement or linked to attendance verification forms. Workers say this practice has placed an unfair burden on them, forcing them to spend their own money just to access wages they have already earned.
Another major concern raised by agents is the lack of formal employment contracts. Despite repeatedly requesting official documentation, many workers claim they are still operating without signed agreements.
Only a small number of agents have reportedly received contracts, while the rest continue working without clear terms of employment.
This situation has left workers feeling insecure, as they have no written proof of their rights, responsibilities, or job protection.
Agents also report working late into the night, sometimes in remote areas, without any transport support. They say there is little concern for their safety when traveling home after long shifts, even in areas with poor lighting or limited public transport.
This has increased fear and anxiety, especially among those working alone.
One worker shared their experience in a message sent anonymously, saying, “Hello Cyprian. Kindly keep my identity confidential. I would like to raise serious concerns regarding Flexi Personnel, the company contracted by Spiro to manage Swap Station Agents. We have been working under extremely unsafe conditions, handling heavy motorcycle batteries weighing about 50kg without proper safety equipment.
This puts our health and physical safety at constant risk. There is also a major issue with payments. Some agents have worked for months without receiving their salaries and to make matters worse, employees are reportedly required to pay money in order for their payments to be processed, something presented as an HR requirement or disguised as an ‘attendance form.’ This practice has caused a lot of financial strain and frustration among workers. Many agents are still operating without signed employment contracts despite repeatedly requesting them. Only a few employees have received formal documentation, while the rest continue working as if they are volunteers but they are expected to fully perform all duties and responsibilities.
Agents work until very late hours even in remote areas with no transportation support or concern for their safety when heading home. We are urgently requesting Spiro to intervene directly and protect its workers instead of leaving employee welfare in the hands of Flexi Personnel which is exposing us to unsafe conditions, unpaid labor and a complete lack of job security. Employees are suffering in silence, and the situation is becoming unbearable.”
The workers are now calling for urgent intervention, hoping that their concerns will be addressed and that proper steps will be taken to ensure fair treatment, timely pay, safe working conditions, and clear employment terms.
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