Government to implement 6% minimum wage pay raise for Employees from November

Nairobi, 

Saturday, 12 October, 2024 

McCreadie Andias 

The Government will implement the 6% minimum wage pay raise for Employees across various sectors effective 1, November, 2024. Labor CS Alfred Mutua announced. 

This comes as The CS officially signed the gazette notice for the enactment of the salary update in Presence of President William at State House on Saturday morning. 

This decision follows months of negotiations involving the government, trade unions, and employers. 

Initially, employers insisted on the establishment of the National Wages Council before negotiations on the wage increment could begin. In response, Dr. Mutua gazetted the council along with several others across various sectors to ensure a structured approach to the wage increase.

During the 59th Labor Day celebrations on 1,May this year, President William Ruto asked the Ministry of Labour to hold a meeting with the relevant labour relations committee so as to raise the minimum wage by at least 6 per cent.

The president's noted that the move was is part of the government’s initiative to uplift the welfare of workers.

President Ruto also instructed the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to operationalise multiple wage councils provided for in the Labour Relations Act 2007, aiming to ensure industrial peace and the effective management of disputes.

The notice covers a range of occupations, from general laborers, farm workers, and domestic workers to artisans, drivers, and more skilled professions.

For instance, in the agricultural industry, the revised wages ensure that unskilled employees will now receive a monthly wage of KSh. 7,997.329, while skilled positions like farm clerks and tractor drivers will also see adjustments.

Similar amendments have been made for other sectors including wage councils for seafarers and protective, general and agricultural workers to ensure fair compensation across the board.

Under the new wage schedule, as outlined in the Labour Institutions Act Cap 234, unskilled employees will earn a minimum of KSh 7,997 per month (KSh 335 per day). Stockmen and herdsmen will see their wages rise to KSh 9,235 per month (KSh 391 per day).

For skilled and semi-skilled workers, the increases are significant. House servants or cooks will now earn a minimum of KSh 9,129 per month (KSh 347 per day), while farm foremen will earn KSh 14,427 per month (KSh 609 per day). 

Farm clerks will also earn a minimum of KSh 14,427 monthly, with wages for other roles—such as farm artisans, tractor drivers, combine harvest drivers, and lorry drivers—set between KSh 9,000 and KSh 11,000 per month.

"As the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection, it is my responsibility to implement this increase across different industries, as outlined in the recently amended wage orders. 

We have updated the Regulation of Wages for both the General and Agricultural sectors, which will directly benefit workers across the nation. This adjustment ensures that the wages reflect the current economic environment and provide a better standard of living."CS Mutua said following the announcement today. 

Employers have been urged to comply with the new wage structure, ensuring that every worker is paid fairly. 

"This increase is a vital part of our broader effort to improve working conditions, create decent jobs, and strengthen our economy. I thank H.E. President Ruto for his leadership and all stakeholders for their unwavering support in making this happen." CS Mutua added. 

President William Ruto has committed to deliver on his plan to create jobs, citing the affordable housing programme, digital hubs and migration of labour.