Ranks of working poor on the rise

By LUKE ANAMI

Revelations that the informal sector created nearly 90 per cent of the total jobs in Kenya last year has raised concerns over the level of employment protection in the sector.

The Kenya Economic Survey 2013 released yesterday by the ministry of Devolution and Planning reveals that the informal sector created an additional 591,400 jobs, or 89.7 per cent of total employment.

The sectors that created informal employment include manufacturing, agriculture, forestry, fishing, wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles.

Due to the nature of the jobs in these sectors — which employ casual workers on farms and in factories, shop attendants, street sellers, mechanics and Jua Kali artisans, among others — and poor attention from previous governments, workers have been left vulnerable to exploitation, low pay and poor labour conditions.

“Our interest is the creation of decent jobs; what we  have been creating is a class of the working poor,” said Chief Economist at Central Organization of Trade Unions Noah Chune. “The income from these jobs is not sufficient to cover the basic needs of the workers. They earn less than the minimum wage. What they have cannot be referred to as decent work.”

But many people are forced to work under harsh conditions because they cannot find alternative work.

Economic advancement

The International Labour Organization defines a decent job as one that paves way for broader social and economic advancement, and empowers individuals, their families and communities.

“The ILO has identified four pillars upon which to create decent jobs. Informal sector jobs can hardly qualify as decent employment. That is why we are in discussion with tripartite partners — employers, employees and the ministry of Labour — to ensure that the ILO Decent Work programme is implemented,” Chune explained.

The ILO Decent Work Agenda calls for the implementation of four strategic objectives: creating jobs, guaranteeing rights at work, extending social protection and promoting social dialogue.

Under job creation, the labour agency calls for an economy that generates opportunities for entrepreneurship and investment, skills development and sustainable livelihoods.

The pillar of rights in the workplace calls for laws that work for the interests of all workers, particularly those that are poor and disadvantaged.

Social protection requires both men and women to enjoy working conditions that are safe, allow adequate free time and rest, take into account family and social values, provide for adequate compensation in case of lost or reduced income, and permit access to adequate healthcare.

Most informal work environments fall short on this particular pillar, with many employers blaming a lack of social protection for employees on their being hired on a casual basis.

The final pillar of social dialogue calls for the participation of strong and independent workers’ and employers’ organisations in increasing productivity, avoiding disputes at work and building cohesive societies.