Workers in the agricultural sector have a reason to smile as they celebrate this year’s Labour Day.
This is after President William Ruto announced a 15 per cent in agricultural wages alongside a 12 per cent increase in general wages.
The increase, President Ruto said, was in recognition of “the sacrifice, resilience, and immense contribution of our workers to the growth and stability of our economy”.
In addition, the president said they have reduced the deposit required to acquire affordable housing units from 10 per cent to 5 per cent for all salaried workers.
In the health sector, the head of state said his administration was reforming the Social Health Authority (SHA) to make it more responsive to the needs of our workforce.
What changes have been made to improve SHA?
“Accordingly, we have withdrawn restrictive tariff mechanisms that have caused unintended challenges, including the temporary outpatient caps initially introduced to safeguard the fund’s financial sustainability,” Ruto said during the marking of Labour Day in Chavakali, Vihiga County.
Moreover, following productive engagements between teacher unions and the government, Ruto announced that teachers will now have access to over 9,000 hospital facilities across the country, up from 900, and will benefit from access to all Level 6 hospitals rather than just one as before.
“These are some of the reforms and commitments we are undertaking as a government to promote the wellbeing of our workers,” he said.
He also affirmed that he remains steadfast in defending, without compromise, the constitutional rights of workers to fair labour practices, to organise and bargain collectively.
Consequently, he revealed that Kenya will soon complete the ratification of the International Labour Organisation Convention No. 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers and Convention No. 190 on the Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work.
