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.
Why this project
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.
Invest in purpose-built facilities and workstations at both the port and market. Careful design can greatly mitigate the risks faced by the women, fishermen and their customers.
Use plastic fishing trays and plastic containers, which would mitigate manual handling risk and reduce contamination in the boats and in the wider environment.
Provide personal protective equipment – glasses and stainless-steel gloves – to protect those employed to process the fish.
Educate workers on the hazards and how to mitigate and learn safer techniques for manual handling and handling raw fish. This will help to reduce chronic musculoskeletal injury and exposure to zoonoses.
“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.
We've included information about what's next for the project below. Keep your eye out for updates, which we'll publish as and when we have them.
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Fact-finding: May 2024
- Conduct a fact-finding mission at KIRDI in Kisumu.
- Conduct a fact-finding mission with Fish Fliers makers in Kisumu (this is another potential source of income).
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PPE and training: May 2024
- Provide PPE to the fishmonger women through Kenya Commercial Bank partnership.
- Provide safety and health training in the workplace.
Get involved
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.