The tea and garment industry in Limuru processing zones- Kenya exemplifies the challenges of global manufacturing: low wages, “flexible” contracts (or no contracts), and poor working conditions. Informal tea and garment and textile workers, a huge workforce in Kenya and mostly rural and urban women are often invisible.From the chemicals they use in the factory to produce gloves, workers are facing to several occupational hazards and experiencing health disorders as well. Reproductive health problems and cancer have become the most visible problems

! The Tea and Garment Industry in Kenya are significant industries in the country. These industries contribute to 7% of the GDP combined and contributes to 39.9% of the exports from Kenya. The value of garment alone exports is US $ 1.1 billion.

! 92% of the workers receive minimum wages and depend on overtime work to make ends meet. When the work becomes too difficult as they grow older and struggle to meet their production targets the women workers leave the jobs and return to their villages.

!Thus the workers’ ability to influence their conditions is very weak as most of them are not organized into trade unions.

! Therefore, a vicious cycle exists – poor conditions lead to lack of unionization which leads to poor conditions. Furthermore, workers are not allowed by the patriarchal industries to form themselves into unions or take part in leadership positions in the industry.