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{
    "id": 222984,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/222984/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 259,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Wetangula",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 210,
        "legal_name": "Moses Masika Wetangula",
        "slug": "moses-wetangula"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Ministry of Labour and Human Resource Development needs to pay attention to the conditions of workers in two areas in this country, the so-called EPZs and the flower farms. Every other day, you get information either through the Press or if you interact with people who work there, they work under very difficult conditions. They are under-paid, they are over-worked and, sometimes, are treated inhumanly. It is desirable that the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources Development engages more qualified personnel to look into the conditions and what those people are doing. Employees in the flower farms, for example, are exposed to chemicals, herbicides and all manner of things that deteriorate their health, yet they are not provided with any medical cover. I know the Bill provides for some limited medical cover, and I hope it will be enforced strictly. I noticed also that the Minister in this Bill--- This is something that he ought to have looked into. For example, he is referring to a law called Labour Institutions Act. I do not know whether we have any such law in this country. You see, we are passing a Bill here. Supposing the draft Bill on labour institutions collapses, how does it become the law under reference in this Bill? So, some co-ordinated way of making cross references to Bills should have been found, because if the Labour Institutions Bill does not pass, then this Clause here--- I heard my learned friend, Mr. Muturi raise a similar point. It is not a serious issue; I hope we will pass the Bill But it is an issue May 9, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1253 that the Minister, when he was moving the Bill, should have mentioned. He needed to say that he was going to make cross references to Bills that are in the pipe line from his Ministry, so that we do not get confused and start talking about laws that do not exist. We need to talk about laws as they are and not as they will be. With those remarks, I support the Bill, subject to what I have pointed out. I hope that the Minister and his team will take them into account."
}