FKE questions parties, aspirants’ labour policies

By Stephen Makabila              

Pushed by the recent wave of labour unrest in the country, the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) has engaged political parties and aspiring candidates to factor peaceful labour relations in their manifestoes among other issues.

Also of concern to the employers is the need to discuss economic growth and job creation, leadership and integrity as well as infrastructural development.

The first meeting between FKE, party leaders and aspirants for positions of governor and senator from Coast province counties was held in Mombasa on Wednesday, September 26.

FKE has lined-up more meetings for Kisumu on October 12, Nakuru October 29 and Nairobi November 30.

FKE Executive Director Jacqueline Mugo told The Standard on Sunday in an interview that the Mombasa meeting was successful and attracted participants from at least 12 political parties. She said the forum enabled employers to understand issues affecting Coast residents through discussions touching on costs of running businesses, stable labour relations and employment matters.

“These forums are meant for discussions and exchange of ideas, but FKE has already addressed the next leadership on all these issues,” she said.

And as the country moves closer to the General Election, Mugo disclosed that FKE will publish what she termed ‘portrait of our leaders”, detailing the qualities leaders at all levels should have, from the president to the counties.

Unionists have in recent days hit out at leading presidential aspirants for burying their heads in the sand as workers pushed their case for better terms against a ‘defiant government’. Among those who faulted aspirants included the Kenya National Union of Teachers chairman Wilson Sossion, who at one time questioned their insensitivity towards the woes facing the country’s labour force.

“We want leaders with the right qualities to fix the country’s problems at all levels, right from the presidency to the lowest position at the county level,” added Mugo.

Industrial action

The country has been weighed down by industrial strikes since last year, with the hardest hit being the education sector due to the recent teachers’ and lecturers’ strike and the health sector as a result of the on-going doctors’ strike.

Teachers resumed duty after three weeks of downing tools when the Government bowed to their demands, while doctors have remained adamant despite sack threats by Medical Services Minister Anyang Nyong’o. Political scientist Amukowa Anangwe says there is need for political parties and presidential aspirants to factor in their manifestoes long-term solutions to the labour question in Kenya.

“Short-term solutions like giving in to salary increament cannot solve the labour unrest disease because more demands will continue emerging in coming years. Teacher training for example should be enriched to give an exit option for those who feel the profession is no longer paying,” added Anangwe.

Mugo said leaders should be able to offer solutions to multiple problems in the labour sector; business and investment areas and the public should be ready to make an informed choice during elections. When the strike wave started late last year, FKE warned that industrial unrest could increase as the country heads towards the General Election and asked the Government to desist from giving in to union demands that cannot be sustained by the economy.

This month, FKE also raised concern over the spate of strikes that were ill timed as the country battles a tough economic environment and the ongoing war on Al Shaabab. The organisation also warned that uncoordinated pay increment to any public entity at this time will be detrimental to the work of the Salary and Remuneration Commission.

According to FKE, increments in some public sectors would create disharmony in remuneration within the public sector employees and other sectors of the economy. This, in turn, would cause more problems by way of increased taxes and cost of production of goods and services.

And the State has already indicated the heavy salary awards to teachers (Sh13.5 billion) will have to be shouldered by the taxpayer.