FCG signs employee relations agreement

Arusha.One of the largest tour business groups in the country, Friedkin Group of Companies (FGC), has signed an agreement compelling it to improve the welfare of its 500 plus employees and abide by the labour rules.

The Collective Bargaining Agreement inked at the weekend with Chodawu, a tourism sector workers’ union, runs for 24 months from the date of signing and will be reviewed every year.

“It was no easy task to reach an agreement. It followed months of long discussions. Some employers simply neglect this,” said Jeremiah Meliari, the union’s secretary for Arusha district.

This now brings to 17 the number of tourism companies operating in and around Arusha which have signed Collective Bargaining Agreement with Conservation, Hotels, Domestic, Social Services and Consulting Workers Union, as Chodawu is known.

The Arusha-based FGC has over seven subsidiaries operating mainly in the northern zone in tour business ranging from aviation, tourist hunting, wildlife conservation, anti-poaching drive and ferrying of tourists to different sites.

The subsidiaries include Ker and Downey (Tanzania) Limited, Tanzania Game Trackers Safaris Limited, Northern Air Limited, Friedkin Conservation Fund and Mwiba Holding and Legendary Expedition.

Mr Meliari said the agreement signed by the two parties was in conformity with the Employment and Labour Relations Act. No. 6 of 2004.

“This will create good working relations between the employer and employee. We are set to improve the workers’ welfare. That include medical care and retirement benefits”, said the Group’s human resource manager Ms Bahati Komba.

According to her, the management of the group has raised the minimum salary of its employees to Sh. 450,000 per month as to the government directive for workers in the tourism sector.