More than 8,000 employees of Eastern Produce Kenya (EPK) are set to benefit from a 14 per cent general wage increase following the signing of an updated Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the tea producer and the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU).
Under the revised agreement, EPK workers will receive a 7 per cent general wage increase in 2026, backdated to January, followed by an additional 7 per cent increase in 2027.
The agreement was signed on Friday as EPK reaffirmed its commitment to employee welfare and improved livelihoods within Kenya’s agricultural sector.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, EPK Company Director Leah Kibii Chirchir said employee welfare remains an important component of the company’s corporate strategy.
“Our employees are at the heart of our business. Every day, through their dedication and hard work, they contribute to EPK’s success and the quality of the tea we produce,” Chirchir said.
She described the wage review as an important step towards supporting workers while recognising their contribution to the company’s operations and the production of Kenyan tea for international markets.
Chirchir added that EPK’s approach to staff welfare is guided by shared prosperity and extends beyond meeting statutory obligations.
KPAWU Secretary General Francis Atwoli, who attended the signing, acknowledged the challenging operating environment facing tea growers and other agricultural companies.
However, he recognised EPK as one of the sector’s leading companies in maintaining positive industrial relations.
“At KPAWU, we recognise the role large tea growers such as EPK are playing in national development, especially in the employment sector,” Atwoli said.
He assured EPK of the union’s continued support as an industrial relations partner.
The updated CBA comes as agricultural employers and workers continue to navigate changing market conditions, rising operational costs and the need to maintain competitiveness while protecting employee welfare.
EPK said it will work closely with relevant stakeholders to implement the revised wage requirements while maintaining its focus on sustainable operations, quality tea production and employee wellbeing.