Dockers issue strike notice over new NHIF rates

Dock Workers Union (DWU) secretary general Simon Sang. The union on Wednesday issued a seven-day strike notice protesting the raise in the National Hospital Insurance Fund deductions. FILE PHOTO | GIDEON MAUNDU |

By  DANIEL TSUMA NYASSY

What you need to know:

  • Mr Sang said the Trade Union Congress of Kenya (TUC) held a meeting with the NHIF management in the recent past where it was agreed that the new rates be shelved until outstanding issues raised with them were resolved.
  • The 4,000-member union now demands that NHIF suspend the gazettement and implementation of the new Act pending determination of the contentious issues.
  • The union also seeks to have the Act amended to provide for equitable representation and to provide for the exemption of existing schemes or separate treatment in terms of rates.

The giant Dock Workers’ Union on Wednesday issued a seven-day strike notice protesting the raise in the National Hospital Insurance Fund deductions.

In a statement to media houses, DWU Secretary-General Simon Sang described the increase as premature since they were gazetted before contentious issues were thrashed out.

Mr Sang said the Trade Union Congress of Kenya (TUC) held a meeting with the NHIF management in the recent past where it was agreed that the new rates be shelved until outstanding issues raised with them were resolved.

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He said the union had written to both the Kenya Ports Authority and NHIF objecting to the manner in which they rushed the Gazette notice and implementation of the new rates.

“In view of the foregoing, the Dock Workers Union hereby formally declares a trade dispute on behalf of unionisable employees against their employer, the Kenya Ports Authority.

“Accordingly, it gives seven days’ notice of its intention to take industrial action (strike) against the above mentioned employer, effective from the date herein in lieu of your intervention,” the union said in the statement.

The 4,000-member union now demands that NHIF suspend the gazettement and implementation of the new Act pending determination of the contentious issues.

It also wants contribution to be done as a variable rate pegged at 1.5 per cent of the employee’s basic pay and the government to pay double the member’s contribution.

DWU also demands that labour centres be allocated slots based on the principle of equity and proportionate contributory strength and that the NHIF be just one among other health insurance schemes in order to encourage competition and quality service delivery.

EXISTING SCHEMES

“The composition of the NHIF board should be based on principles of corporate governance, free from state interference,” the union added in its statement.

The union also seeks to have the Act amended to provide for equitable representation and to provide for the exemption of existing schemes or separate treatment in terms of rates.

“Hospitals, clinics and health care centres providing health care service for NHIF beneficiaries should be properly equipped before the implementation of the Act,” it adds.

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