By Luke Anami

Rules and regulations to operationilise the new labour laws have been finalised, Mrs Beatrice Kituyi, PS Ministry of Labour has said.

"A draft of rules that will enable the new labour laws to operate will be presented to the Labour Board before the end of the year," Kituyi said in an exclusive interview with the Standard.

"We also expect some of the sections which go against the constitution to be reviewed soon to enable full implementation of the new laws."

Kituyi said the tripartite partners including the Government, employers and employees representatives will deliberate issues that impede the role and rights of labour institutions, including the Industrial Court.

Kenya Power and Lighting Company workers. Rules that will enable new labour laws to operate have been finalised. Photo: file

The Ministry of Labour operates in a tripartite manner where the Government, the Federation of Kenya Employers and the Central Organisation of trade Unions are equally represented.

She said sections that are in conflict with the constitution should, however, be presented to the Attorney General for review and legal advise.

"It has taken long to prepare the rules and regulations which in essence should have been ready before the implementation of the laws," the PS said.

"The powers and the rights of the Industrial Court in dispute resolution between employers and employees is a matter that will be given priority by the Government." The PS was reacting to the fact that Industrial Court awards are increasingly challenged in the High Court even where the law empowers the court as the final arbitrator in such matters.

The FKE through their Chief Executive Officer Jacqueline Mugo confirmed that the rules have been prepared and all parties should move fast to speed operations of the laws.

"I wish to confirm that FKE participated in drafting the rules which we hope to see improve the operations of the laws," she said in a telephone interview on friday.