"Kenyan workers win the right to sue global tea manufacturer"

A Scottish court has ruled that a group of Kenyan farm workers can continue with a multi-million pound damages case against a major global tea firm.

Up to 2,000 employees claim they suffered injuries due to working conditions at James Finlay Kenya Ltd.

JFK, which has its registered address in Aberdeen, denies the claims and argues the case should not be heard in a Scottish court.

But on Tuesday a Court of Session judge ruled the class action could go ahead.

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Many of the workers claim they suffered "musculoskeletal injuries" because of working conditions at JFK.

At a previous hearing the court heard claims that the pickers were routinely asked to work up to 12 hours a day without a break, for six days a week, earning in 2017 an average monthly wage of £100.

The hearing also heard evidence that pickers had to harvest a minimum of 30kg (4st 10lb) of tea to be paid anything at all.

A lawyer for the workers said the ruling was hugely significant.

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