Proposed workers' umbrella body rivals Central Organisation of Trade Unions

A new proposed umbrella labour organisation seeks to have minimum wages raised and trade unions allowed to join unions or federations of their choice, one of its officials has announced in Mombasa.

Advocates of the proposed Trade Union Congress of Kenya (TUC-Ke) want the Sh6,700 minimum wage raised to Sh20,000.

TUC-Ke, set to be launched on November 23, is expected to rival Francis Atwoli's Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu).

"How do you explain the current situation where a security worker earns between Sh3,000 and Sh7,000? This is a mockery," said TUCKe executive committee member and general secretary of the Dock Workers Union, Simon Sang.

Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary General Wilson Sossion is the acting chairman while Universities Staff Union Secretary General Charles Mukhwaya is acting secretary general.