Teachers and subordinate staff through their unions; Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU), Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and Kenya Union of Domestic Hostels Educational Institutions Hospitals and Allied Workers (Kudheiha) have condemned the government’s proposal to impose housing levy without a commensurate increment of workers’ pay.
KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu said that it can only happen when there are proper consultations.
He said the state should understand that the union leaders are on hot seats as worker`s representatives, adding that yet another levy on the same salary of workers could not make sense.
The unions led by KUSU Secretary General Charles Mukhwaya, condemned the move as they said the decision is in total violation of Section 26(2) of the Employment Act, 2007 which calls for engagements with workers before implementing a decision.
“As unions, we condemn in the strongest terms the heartless, insensitive and cavalier manner in which the Government is proposing to impose a housing levy without any commensurate increment in worker`s emoluments. We demand the immediate reversal of the levy.
“As stakeholders in the labour movement, we will soon decide on the way forward on the continuous government`s insensitivity to the plight of workers, especially in the public service,” Mukhwaya said.
Constantine Wasonga, UASU Secretary General, said the members have vowed to reject the levy, nothing that they also rejected the 1.5 per cent levy proposed by the previous administration.
By Vostine Ratemo
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