Uhuru’s Labour Day 14 per cent wage hike yet to be effected

By ISAAC MESO

The minimum wage increase ordered by President Uhuru Kenyatta during Labour Day celebrations four months ago is yet to be implemented, The Standard on Saturday has learnt.

And now Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) is accusing the government of deceiving Kenyans.

Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli has hit out at the government over the delay to implement the 14 per cent minimum wage increment.

During the May 1 celebrations this year, President Kenyatta awarded the country’s lowest paid workers an increase of 14 per cent on their basic minimum wage. Kenyan workers had expected this Presidential directive to take effect on the midnight of May 1.

A furious Atwoli yesterday said four months down the line, the directive is yet to be effected nor has there been its gazettement by the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Services Kazungu Kambi to effect the presidential order.

“In view of these developments, Cotu will next week convene a special meeting of all its 36 affiliated trade unions’ general secretaries at Cotu headquarters to take a decision on the matter,” said Atwoli.

He was reacting to a letter written to Cotu by the principal sectary in the Ministry of Labour and Social services Ali Ismail to the effect that there existed a new Statutory Instruments Act No. 37 of 2013 that barred the implementation of the new minimum wage unless through public participation and this advice had been delivered by the Attorney General.

“Section 45 of the Labour Institution Act, 2007, provides for a notice of 30 days for public participation before publication of minimum wages among other requirements. The AG also advised that there are changes in the process of affecting any new legal statutes across the board, occasioned by the enactment of the new Statutory Instruments Act No.37 of 2013,” says part of the letter.

Wide consultations

Atwoli said this move contradicted the laid down industrial procedures that dictates that a presidential decree similar to the one given during Labour Day should not be a subject of legalities and frivolous debates.

“Cotu is determined to go an extra mile and ensure this order is effected immediately without any further delay and both the government and employers should ready themselves for consequences.” said Atwoli.  On May 1, the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE), Cotu and the Ministry of Labor held a series of meetings, including a final one at the President’s office at Harambee House Chaired by the then Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet Francis Kimemia. In attendance was the then Finance Permanent Secretary Joseph Kinyua.

During which FKE stuck at a five per cent minimum wage increase, Cotu at 21 per cent and the Ministry of Labour at 14 per cent, which was settled on.