Workers’ fury over wage increase


Published on 02/05/2009

By Motorn Saulo and Ramadhan Rajab

Labour Minister John Munyes could not finish reading the President’s speech as angry and hungry workers booed him.

They threw stones at the VIP pavilion and as Labour Day tension rose, security personnel and aides shoved the ministers and other public figures to their cars. The President, Prime Minister and Vice-President did not attend.

Reeling in the wave of global economic recession and harsh times locally, workers first forced Munyes to cut short the speech and go straight to the paragraph on wage increases.

He complied, leaving out many of the paragraphs State House wanted him to read, largely on what the Government had done for workers and the youth.

But when he read out the increase in minimum wage earnings, which cunningly avoided saying what the previous figures were for the categories that benefited, they walked away. They ignored even the call to stand still as the National Anthem was played out – after Munyes gave up on the speech.

When interviewed on the cause of their fury, many said they were living in hard times and their leaders seemed unaware of their plight. They pointed at the soaring food prices and general rise in the cost of living, without cushion through salary awards by the Government.

Workers expressed discontent at the new general minimum wage President Kibaki had probably thought would be the best Labour Day gift for workers.

Those present at the festivity when trade union officials said all they wanted to hear from the minister was what would go to the pocket of the worker included Education Minister Sam Ongeri, MPs and diplomats.

Raised their expectation

A security team sandwiched Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli, denying him the chance to react to the President’s speech.

Trouble started when Atwoli told the minister amid cheers that no one would leave the venue if no increment were awarded to starving Kenyans.

"Let’s hear what the minister has for us," he said, accompanied by his traditional stage theatrics.

He added: "Kama hauna chochote hatutoki hapa." (If you have nothing for us we will not leave this place).

This raised the expectation of the crowd, which chanted songs of praise for Atwoli. At one point an excited member of the crowd approached the dais garlanded with a placard reading "Atwoli for president."

But when the minister rose to address the crowd, saying he had a speech from the President, a section of the crowded started leaving the venue while others appear to reject it. Still others openly booed the minister as he struggled to read President Kibaki’s speech.

"Hatutaki salamu twataka pesa," responded the workers (We do not want greetings, we want money). That was when Munyes, to calm them, quickly flipped through the six-page speech for the paragraph that contained the wage adjustments ordered by the President.

The President increased the minimum wages by 20 per cent for agricultural sector workers, and 18 per cent for general workers. The poignant paragraph ran: "Due to the rising cost of living and order to protect workers not covered by Collective Bargain Agreement, I direct the statutory minimum wage for those in the agricultural sector be increased to Sh3,043."

The President also directed for the general wages category the minimum wage for those working in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu is adjusted to Sh6,130.

Future bargains

"All municipalities, including Mavoko, Ruiru, and Limuru town councils will now have a minimum wage of Sh5,655," the President added.

The minimum wage in all other areas will be Sh3,270.

Before the new increment workers in agriculture sector were taking home a minimum wage of Sh2,536 since the 2006 increment.

Prior to completing the listing of the new order of payment the crowd was restless, shouting at Munyes, as others began leaving. This threw the fete into disarray as others resorted to stone throwing.

The defiant Kenyans could not even accord the National Anthem the respect it deserves.

Last year, the President ruled out pay increment, saying the challenge the country was facing was immense. Atwoli welcomed the increment saying, "It lays a good platform for future bargains."

Federation of Kenya Employers Chairman Patrick Obath expressed his satisfaction, but pointed out at a possible consumer goods price increase.

"Increment was necessary since it has been two years since the last increase," he said.

Obath argued the Government was not pragmatic in some of its decisions.

"We have to look at consumable products not to increase the prices of their commodities," he said.

Union of Kenya Civil Servants Secretary General Tom Odege, termed the increment negligible and below expectations.

"The Government has carefully avoided the issues of percentages," Odege said.

Odege questioned the value of Sh1,000 increase in three years.

Lawyer Paul Muite termed the increment a drop in the ocean and not commensurate with the cost of living.

"The acrimony and grumbling from the public is a show of complete disconnect between the people and the Government," said Muite

He added: "It is a signal of frustration with the leaders. Kenyans are tired of poor economic systems."

 

 

Read all about: francis atwoli cotu workers’ unions trade unions labour day

 

 

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