The interns employed under the Tuskys Supermarket internship programme are an angry lot after the graduates were forced to jobs below their qualifications.
The advertisement for the internship allude that the interns would be given hand on experience at the retailer. Graduates who applied hoped that they would get experience in their specific area of study but instead they were reduced to shelf cleaners off loaders.
During the festive season when the supermarkets are the busiest the interns were forced to stand for 12 Hours without breaks to attend to the influx in customers.
The interns main complain is that during the training that they had they had not been told of their job descriptions as cleaners and off loaders.
Graduates applied to get experience in their various areas of study, during this application period Tuskys recorded 16 graduates holding masters degrees applying for the same internship.
Read: How Moses Kuria is RAPING Interns at His ‘Brandmasters’ and Not Paying Suppliers
The interns are also opposed to the fact that they have to pay statutory deductions on the mere stipend of Sh. 15000 that they ought to receive.
The Tuskys internship row has also been supported by Kenyans on tweeter who have said that interns have been turned into beasts of burdens by company who want to get quality labour at a lower rate.
Babu Owino added his weight to the topic by stating that internships are slowly becoming tools of modern slavery.
Internships are fast becoming tools of modern slavery in Kenya. Most of University interns never get absorbed by the institutions that promise them jobs upon their graduation. Something must be done. #InternsNotBeastsOfBurden
— Babu Owino (@HEBabuOwino) December 29, 2017
Just had to weigh in..clinical officers undergo a one year of unpaid internship..no one cares,no one listens #InternsNotBeastsOfBurden
— King of the North (@LehmanFestus) December 29, 2017
It has come to many people's attention than interns in Kenya are being misused by employers. Many employers will hire as many interns as possible so as to save on employee costs and this is very bad to the economy.#InternsNotBeastsOfBurden
— Amedo Shair (@AmedoShair) December 29, 2017
Other corporations such as Huduma Kenya and Oak place Hotel have also been incorporated in the intern exploitation mess. They have been accused of offering three month internship programs and only absorb those that have connections and pay them a salary lower than those employed on merit.
https://twitter.com/njoro_zero_01/status/946645991230459904
#InternsNotBeastsOfBurden Oak place hotel accused of misusing interns. Tell the owner we are coming for him pic.twitter.com/ejWpaponM5
— Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) December 29, 2017
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