Labour and Social Protection, Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Alfred Mutua, has reassured workers that the proposed 6% minimum wage increase will be implemented before the end of the year. Addressing concerns about the timeline, Dr. Mutua announced that workers could start seeing the increase reflected in their payslips as early as October 2024.
The Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary made the remarks following discussions with key stakeholders, including the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE), represented by President Gilda Odera and Executive Director Jacqueline Mugo in his office.
During the talks, Dr. Mutua committed to fast-tracking the gazettement of several crucial councils necessary for the wage increment’s implementation. These bodies include the Wages Council, Seafarers Council, Agricultural Workers Council, and Private Security Guards Council.
He said: “The economy can’t grow if the private sector is not growing. If the private sector shrinks, then no jobs are created.”
The Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary called on employers to adhere to best practices and ensure fairness for employees, highlighting the importance of occupational health.
Dr. Mutua also expressed his intention to visit various workplaces to personally assess the treatment of workers.
He says the tripartite partners—comprising the government, FKE, and the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU)—will hold quarterly meetings to review the state of labour in Kenya.