Munyes moves to ease tension on revised NHIF deductions

By Mutinda Mwanzia

Labour Minister John Munyes has moved to avert a looming battle between workers and their employers over the new NHIF deductions.

The minister said he has scheduled a roundtable meeting next week with the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE), Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu), and other interested parties.

"There is need for calm, hence the call for dialogue over the issue," Mr Munyes said yesterday.

Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli has threatened to call a national strike unless the move to deduct the money from workers is rescinded.

Last week, the union moved to the High Court and obtained orders blocking NHIF from imposing the proposed new rates, arguing the Industrial Court’s order authorising the same would violate workers’ rights.

Munyes spoke during a conference organised by Cotu in Nairobi and attended by President Kibaki.

He said there is need to engage the union for an amicable solution to the dispute.

Wrong approach

Munyes promised to talk to Medical Services Minister Anyang’ Nyong’o and prevail upon him to attend the roundtable meeting with Cotu and FKE.

Mr Atwoli accused Prof Nyong’o of arrogance. "The minister has been very arrogant to us and as a professor he should behave better," he told the meeting.

He reiterated that NHIF does not have the capacity to handle such huge deductions from workers.

FKE Director Jacqueline Mugo termed the NHIF scheme a good idea implemented in a bad way.

"We will join unions to say the NHIF idea is wrong," said Ms Mugo.

President Kibaki did not comment on the NHIF debate, but said the new Constitution entrenches labour laws, thus ushering in a new dawn for workers.