Smollan Kenya, a key player in the retail solutions industry, is under intense scrutiny following rising complaints from Unilever Kenya’s brand promoters and merchandisers.
The disgruntled workers allege systemic exploitation, unpaid wages, and poor treatment by the company and its partner agency, Golden Marketing.
In May 2024, a group of brand promoters under Golden Marketing broke their silence, revealing that their salaries had been withheld since 2022, sparking a wave of complaints.
While the issue began with Golden Marketing, more complaints have emerged pointing the finger at Smollan Kenya, with claims of delayed payments, favoritism in career advancement, and unfair treatment of employees.
One former employee, speaking anonymously to this reporter, shared disturbing details about their experience.
“Merchandisers, unlike government jobs where there is a job group, are paid the same salary depending on the project. For Smollan, it’s different. We have employees who have been in G1 for five years, and others coming behind them are being promoted because of who you know or who brought you in,” the source claimed.
The source also described how career growth was determined by personal favors rather than merit, including the disturbing suggestion that women were required to offer favors to progress in their roles.
“When it comes to promotion and career growth, it’s not based on merit but rather what you can give in return, such as favors for ladies,” the source added.
Aside from these allegations, workers are reporting a drastic reduction in allowances. A former employee said, “I used to receive a fare allowance of 5k, but with the new leadership, that allowance was removed. Before I left the organization in October, I was not receiving anything.”
According to the complainants, when employees raised concerns about the missing allowances, their queries were either ignored or dismissed.
“When we ask about it, you are silenced and brushed off. For the years I’ve worked with them, Unilever Kenya normally has a budget for merchandisers and people working on that project,” said the employee, wondering whether Unilever had cut the budget without their knowledge.
Despite these grievances, Smollan Kenya’s senior managers are reportedly living a life of luxury.
“These people are now rolling in new cars while merchandisers are suffering. It has demoralized the merchandisers, and they have no morale to work,” the source added.
The discontent among workers reflects an ongoing pattern of frustration and demoralization, and it raises serious questions about the practices of Smollan Kenya and its partnership with Unilever.
As more employees come forward, it seems clear that action is needed to address these issues before the situation worsens.
