Salaries and Remuneration Commission: State to conduct job evaluation

The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has clarified that various Government departments are the ones conducting a job evaluation exercise for the public sector in the 47 counties.

SRC pointed out that the commission only plays an oversight role, which includes offering guidance and leadership to the departments.

Salaries and Remuneration Commission chairperson Sarah Serem (left) and vice chairperson Daniel Ogutu at a past press conference. Ogutu has said that job evaluation is already complete in seven counties.(PHOTO: COURTESY)

SRC Vice Chairman Daniel Ogutu said job evaluation is already complete in seven counties.

Speaking during a meeting with Cabinet secretaries, Ogutu promised SRC will uphold a recent court ruling and work together with the Teachers Service Commission and unions representing teachers in improving the working conditions of the teaching fraternity.

The Employment and Labour Relations court recently stated that SRC only plays an advisory role and has no mandate as far as the evaluation process was concerned.

Yesterday, SRC Chairperson Sarah Serem maintained the intent of the evaluation is to determine the worth of the jobs in the public sector.

"During the exercise, a salary survey will be undertaken and benchmarking with other nations done to determine competitiveness," she explained in her speech read to the CSs.

Serem said SRC was only spearheading the exercise on behalf of other Government institutions.

"This is a mammoth exercise that will require time, effort, commitment, sacrifice, patience understanding and support from each and everyone of us. I am confident that with cooperation from all of us, we will be able to achieve the objective of the exercise," she stated.

Skilled personnel

Last month, President Uhuru Kenyatta launched Remuneration and Benefits Policy, whose overall purpose is to guide the Government on how to achieve an effective remuneration and benefits system.

It seeks to ensure all public sector employees are satisfied that they are fairly, equitably and transparently compensated for their labour while enabling the public service to attract and retain skilled personnel.

The policy will also seek to operationalise Article 239 of the Constitution that requires the wage bill to be sustainable.

Serem said SRC is committed to ensure that the public service is able to competitively attract relevant skills.

"The fruits of the exercise will be improved service delivery, improved performance and productivity and growth in economy," she stated.