1 May 2011
Nairobi — The Kenyan government has announced a 12.5 per cent increase in minimum wage for Kenyan workers.
Labour minister John Munyes made the announcement during this year’s May Day celebrations at Nairobi’s Uhuru Park, a low-key event marked by low attendance by the public.
Both President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga skipped the event.
The wage increment comes in the wake of rising cost of living, brought about by the increase in fuel and food prices.
Central Organisation of Trade Unions, Cotu – the umbrella body of all workers’ unions – had earlier demanded a 60 per cent increase in minimum wage, threatening a strike if the demands were not met.
During his Labour Day speech on Sunday, Cotu secretary general urged the government to push the minimum wage to 60 per cent”This is the reality according to the prevailing circumstances,” he said.
The Prime Minister had on Wednesday indicated in Parliament that the government would raise the minimum wage to cushion workers from the high prices. However, employers and manufacturers took issue with the planned increase, arguing that it would lead to job losses as companies freeze employment
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