IOSH
Ripples of hope – fishmonger women
Lake Victoria, Kenya
These women process fish, which puts them in the middle of a value chain. It also puts them at risk of significant harm. And when they can’t work, they have no income. So, we’re supporting Commonwealth Business Women Africa to make positive changes to these women’s working lives. This includes implementing safety measures in the workplace and introducing alternative ways to earn an income.
The fishmonger women work long hours – but reap little reward.
They buy fish from men, process it, and then sell it on to end consumers via male agents.
Handling the fish can cause them significant harm, such as sickness from fish spike injuries to hands and feet, fish waste and smoke inhalation. Some also have eyesight problems because the scales can get into their eyes. And they don’t have money for healthcare.
It’s not just the women who are at risk, as they also need to bring their children to the workplace. The jikos (portable stoves) are open, and the children are at risk of falling into the fire or hot oil.
When the women can't work, they end up in a downward spiral. They are sexually exploited by fishermen and agents – the only way they can repay their debts. As a result, many women are HIV positive.
These are based on the risk assessment recommendations for a safer and healthier working life for the fishmongers and include both short- and long-term targets. You can download the risk assessment at the bottom of this page.
Provide workers with the tools and facilities to conduct their work in a safe and healthy way.
Support the workers and community to make the transition from informal to formal economy.
Educate and train the workers on the hazards and risks of their working practices and explain how these can be avoided.
Educate and train the women on new opportunities for work and how to utilise their current work to produce alternate products for additional marketing and income.
Raise awareness and gain support from partners, governments and interested parties to help the workers change their current way of working through investment, training and provision of safety supplies.
“There’s a lady who was carrying her oil from the fire and she fell down with the oil. She got burnt: her face, her body. She’s still recovering. It’s been almost four months.”
Catherine Odongo
- Job role
- Fishmonger, frying unit
Who is involved
- Commonwealth Business Women Africa (CBW-Africa)
- Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC)
- Government of Kenya
- Equity Bank
- Local IOSH members
- IOSH consultants
- Fishmonger women and quarry scavengers
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Risk assessment: November 2023
Local OSH experts and IOSH members have conducted an impartial risk assessment to assess the current conditions.
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Funding boost: January 2024
A well-wisher gave each woman $100 USD to inject into their business.
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Training partner: March 2024
We have identified Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI) as a partner to train the women in two areas: fish leather production and pig feed manufacture.
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Finance talks: April 2024
Commonwealth Business Women Africa started a partnership discussion with Kenya Commercial Bank to provide financing to the fishmonger women.
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Move to formal economy: September 2024
The women have transitioned to the formal economy and formed co-operatives. Workers are better protected, as being in the formal economy ensures better working conditions, stronger safety, health and quality standards, better trade infrastructure and procedures. And this means accelerated trade. They are protected by regulatory frameworks, as they are recognised businesses and employment. This promotes job stability, societal welfare, spurs economic growth, and reduces poverty, enhancing the lives of the workers and their communities.
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Income from new products: October 2024
The women have been trained how to safely continue with their existing fish processing and produce fish leather and pig food as by-products. This increases the products they produce and they are selling them at market value.
Next steps
Keep your eye out for updates. New films documenting progress are coming in 2025.
We welcome your support in helping people stay safe at work. It can change the lives of the most vulnerable workers. Find out more about these projects and the work we are doing.