Govt Announces 6% Minimum Wage Increase Across Various Sectors
Wage increases are set to bring much-needed relief to thousands of Kenyan workers as President William Ruto announced a 6 per cent rise in minimum wages across various sectors.
The announcement was made during in a gazette notice issued on Friday, October 11, signed by Labour Cabinet Secretary Dr Alfred Mutua. Mutua argued that the wage increase is a critical step in improving the living standards of employees and will take effect on November 1, 2024.
Months of negotiations between the government, trade unions, and employers culminated in this decision. Initially, employers pushed for the establishment of the National Wages Council as a prerequisite for discussions on wage increments. In response, Dr. Mutua gazetted the council alongside several others, paving the way for structured negotiations.
The new wage schedule, outlined in the Labour Institutions Act Cap 234, sets the minimum wage for unskilled employees at Ksh7,997 per month, translating to Ksh335 per day. Stockmen and herdsmen will see their monthly earnings rise to Ksh9,235, equating to Ksh391 daily. These increases mark a significant step in recognizing the hard work of these essential roles.
Skilled and semi-skilled workers will also benefit from substantial wage hikes. House servants and cooks will now earn a minimum of Ksh9,129 monthly, while farm foremen will receive Ksh14,427. Additionally, farm clerks will earn the same amount, with other positions such as farm artisans, tractor drivers, and lorry drivers seeing wages set between Ksh9,000 and Ksh11,000 per month.
Miners, stone cutters, turnboys, waiters, cooks, loggers, and line cutters will receive a new monthly wage of Ksh17,402.97, which equates to Ksh836.50 per day. Night watchmen will now be paid Ksh17,976.54 monthly.
Machine attendants, sawmill sawyers, machine assistants, mass production machinists, shoe cutters, bakery workers, bakery assistants, and tailor assistants will see their salaries increase to Ksh18,263.27 per month, with a daily rate of Ksh877.
The monthly pay for machinists (made to measure), shoe upper preparers, chaplis makers, vehicle service workers (at petrol and service stations), bakery plant hands, laundry operators, junior clerks, and light wheel tractor drivers will now be Ksh20,848.40.
Printing machine operators, bakery machine operators, plywood machine operators, sawmill dressers, shop assistants, machine tool operators, dough makers, table hand bakers or confectioners, copy typists, and drivers of cars and light vans will earn a minimum of Ksh21,748.87 monthly.
Pattern designers (draughtsmen), garment and dress cutters, single-hand oven operators, chargehand bakers, general clerks, telephone operators, receptionists, and storekeepers will receive Ksh24,818.31 per month. Tailors and drivers of medium-sized vehicles will now have a basic salary of Ksh27,352.40.
Dyers, crawler tractor drivers, and salesmen will see their pay rise to Ksh30,196.64. Meanwhile, saw doctors and building caretakers will earn Ksh33,416.82, with a daily wage of Ksh1,609.
Cashiers, drivers of heavy commercial vehicles, and salesman drivers will have their monthly salaries set at Ksh36,360.92, or Ksh1,750.54 per day.
Artisan wages have also been adjusted, with ungraded artisans now earning Ksh21,748.92. Artisan Grade III will be paid Ksh27,352.45, Grade II will receive Ksh29,542.36, and Artisan Grade I will make Ksh36,360.92.
This wage adjustment is not limited to the agricultural sector; it extends to manufacturing and other industries, ensuring widespread increases across the economy. The government has emphasised its commitment to enhancing the welfare of workers, particularly those earning the minimum wage. President Ruto reiterated the administration’s dedication to addressing the economic challenges faced by vulnerable employees.
