×
App Icon
The Standard e-Paper
Fearless, Trusted News
★★★★ - on Play Store
Download App

Dear Politician,Stick to issues.

In most cases house helps in Kenya are considered as lesser beings who don't understand their rights. A lot of changes have been made in this area to restore their dignity.As an employer or potential employer, you need to be aware of these changes.

First and foremost as an employer you should know that you can no longer hire and fire domestic workers at will. It is now clear that if you want to terminate the services of your house help you have to notify her a month before.

If you fail to do so and she goes to court you are bound to pay her handsomely for terminating her services without prior notice as required by the law.

Secondly, you should be aware that a house help is entitled to a minimum pay of Sh 11,500 per month. Earlier on the Government raised the salary of the house helps to a minimum of Sh10,954.

Going by this salary scale you as an employee you are supposed to calculate the salary arrears and pay your house help before she moves to court.

This salary is supposed to be computed as from 2015 when the Government raised their salaries.

Thirdly if you want to fire you house help because of redundancy you are supposed to pay her one month salary plus 15 per cent severance pay for each year she has worked for you.

Also, it is clear that you are supposed to give your house help a two day off. In cases where you fail to give her a two day off, you are supposed to pay her Sh 527 per day or Sh 4,216 per month.

In addition, your house help is entitled to an annual leave whereby you are supposed to pay her that month's salary.

As an employer, you should also know that your house help is not supposed to work during public holidays. If it is a must for her to work during holidays you are supposed to pay her for those days.

Meanwhile, as an employer, you should know that the house help is entitled to same rights as any other employee. She should be treated with respect and reverence.

@BAlicecon

Premium Article

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.

Bold Reporting Takes Time, Courage and Investment. Stand With Us.
Continue Reading  →
What you get
  • Unlimited access to all premium content
  • Ad-free browsing experience
  • Mobile-optimised reading
  • Weekly newsletters & digests
Pay via
M - PESA
VISA
Airtel Money
Secure Payments Kenya's most trusted newsroom since 1902
Support Independent Journalism

Stand With Bold Journalism.
Stand With The Standard.

Journalism can't be free because the truth demands investment. At The Standard, we invest time, courage and skills to bring you accurate, factual and impactful stories. Subscribe today and stand with us in the pursuit of credible journalism.

Pay via
M - PESA
VISA
Airtel Money
Secure Payment Kenya's most trusted newsroom since 1902