You have ignored workers, President Uhuru Kenyatta told

Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli

The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) has accused the Jubilee government of ignoring industrial relations. The workers' umbrella union also said all registered trade unions in the country had decided to work together to address issues affecting workers in different professions that have been ignored by the Government.

In a press conference Sunday, Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli told Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi to stop directing employers to deduct the new National Social Security Fund (NSSF) rates, as the matter is still in court.

The Government had proposed to increase the monthly NSSF rates contribution from Sh200 to Sh1,080.

"A law was passed to increase NSSF monthly contributions and we went to court to stop this. Despite the matter being in court, the Ministry of Labour is telling some employers who are unaware of the matter being in court to remit Sh1,000. This is illegal and we will not allow it," said Mr Atwoli.

Atwoli now wants workers who have been contributing the new NSSF rates or have been forced to contribute to present their pay slips to his office for further action.

He said Mr Kambi's gazette notice indicating that himself and the Federation of Kenya Employers Executive Director Jacqueline Mugo were no longer NSSF board members was nullified by a court order.

Atwoli said all meetings that have been held without the two of them present are illegal meetings and anything passed is null and void.