Employees contracted through agencies at BIC East Africa are increasingly expressing grievances regarding persistently difficult working conditions, including unrealistic and shifting sales targets, and low pay.
Despite BIC’s recent expansion in East Africa, where the company established a manufacturing facility in Nairobi to strengthen its foothold in the region, reports indicate that contract workers are struggling with inconsistent compensation, late payments, and an inability to voice complaints due to job insecurity.
A recent statement from one anonymous sales representative highlighted specific issues: despite the agency’s initial promise of a 20,000 KES retainer and allowances for transport and phone credit, actual pay often falls short.
Workers report facing lowered earnings due to altered targets and last-minute deductions, which often bring their take-home pay down to as little as 8,000 KES per month.
Furthermore, there are accounts of agency managers allegedly threatening workers with job termination if they raise complaints, intensifying feelings of exploitation among workers who need these jobs to support their families.
These conditions stand in stark contrast to BIC’s public statements, which emphasize a commitment to employee development and community impact under their “Writing the Future, Together” program.
The initiative aims to support education and career growth in the region, positioning BIC as a socially responsible employer.
Yet, there appears to be a disconnect between this vision and the realities experienced by contracted workers, who feel sidelined from the protections and benefits that full-time employees might enjoy.
The treatment of agency workers has raised concerns about the potential impact on mental health, with some workers describing severe stress and anxiety over unstable pay and unrelenting pressure to meet goals that seem purposely unattainable.
With increasing attention on fair labor practices, particularly in multinational companies operating in regions with high youth unemployment, BIC’s agency workers are calling for meaningful change, including stable pay structures, fair target-setting, and respectful treatment in the workplace.
This situation highlights a broader issue of contractual employment practices in the region, where many large companies outsource roles to avoid direct employment responsibilities.
However, as pressure mounts, BIC’s management may need to take direct action to improve the working conditions of agency-based employees or risk damaging its public image and employee morale in East Africa.
