Govt Fails To Announce Minimum Wage Increase

Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi says this will be done before the end of the year after the government carries out a review of the performance of the economy.

The Cabinet Secretary was speaking today when he addressed the annual Labour Day celebrations at Uhuru Park.

Kambi said that the government will consult with the Federation of Kenya Employers and announce increments depending on the performance of economy.

This dampened the spirits of workers in attendance who were waiting for 'good news from the government'.

Kambi told those in attendance that his ministry will have to determine whether a hike in the minimum wage would be sustainable.

In the President’s speech read by Kambi, President Uhuru Kenyatta indicated that the government had began a full review of current labour laws in a bid to align them with the constitution and modern challenges.

The President also moved to assure Kenyans that the review process would be a product of wide consultative process.

COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli called for an end to politicization of trade union matters and instead called on the government to support his union in addressing workers' issues.

Atwoli said the country needs a strong labour movement instead of formation of competing ones to ensure welfare of all workers are catered for effectively.

By Wangui Ngechu