A couple’s plan to help maids save for a rainy day

When Joseph Gichunge and his wife Leah Imaita founded Jazza Centre two years ago, their plan was simple, to find decent jobs for their recruits — housekeepers.

They wanted to better their lives by bringing professionalism is a service industry that is often put to the back burner. Their quest was to better the quality of service for their potential clients by connecting them with skilled workers.

Today their dream is benefiting about 200 servants from the initial five. And they are seeking to introduce a new element, the culture of savings among the housekeepers.

“I want to do something that will result in improving the lives of the house-helps as well as ensure their future is secured. I plan on introducing a Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (Sacco) that is tailor-made just for them,” Mr Gichunge told Money.

Plans are already underway with a view to partnering with established saccos in order for them to model a product that fits the requirements of housemaids.

WELL PAID

“For now, the membership will only be open to our employees, but subject to change in future, and contributions will be done on a monthly basis ranging from as low as Sh200,” he said.

The house-helps, though they work for his clients, are sorely under Jazza Centre’s employment.

“We operate on the same principle that security companies do. We have clients depositing money with us as payment for the services offered, then we process our employees’ pay slips every month. This is the same way we shall process sacco contributions,” he notes adding that the project is in its initial stages and he is coming up with the necessary paperwork to realise the savings dream.

“Members would enjoy benefits similar to those offered in other saccos but we would model the products to suit our employees,” he says.

According to Mr Gichinga, when one of their employees leaves employment, they would recover their savings.

“Provided that there are no outstanding debts,” he points out and is quick to add that all his employees are paid reasonably well.

“Their salaries range between Sh10,500 and Sh20,000 depending on their job description and with proper facilitation, they are able to cater for their daily expenses and save as well. To begin with, the major objective of this sacco is to inculcate a savings culture in our employees to ensure that they grow and sustain their livelihoods,” Mr Gichinga adds.

Jazza Centre currently operates at Muthaiga estate, in Nairobi, but the couple plans to set up a larger office that can board hundreds of trainees along eastern bypass.

“This will also help up have a backup of employees to supply our clients in case of off sick or other emergencies,” Mrs Imaita said.

Mrs Imaita, who is also the human resource manager, is proud of the progress the entity has made since she quit her job to help launch it. She has a background in engineering.

SAFETY SKILLS

“We train them on housekeeping, laundry, cooking and nutrition, early childhood development, personal hygiene and etiquette, health and safety skills as well as communication skills,” she said.

The workers under Jazza Centre have National Social Security Fund and National Hospital Insurance Fund memberships.

Once a client seeks a worker, they are expected to state their working hours — the time they leave and arrive home, the size of their house, number of children and their age groups and the types of chores they would like the house-helps to do.

This centre came up with a salary structure for house-helps based on the duties to be handled.

Ensure quality

“It also helps us match the requirements with the best suited individual to ensure quality. In addition to that, we do a monthly review of our employee’s work with the client. This helps us know if we have met our clients’ expectations.” Mr Gichinga explains.

Introducing a savings and credit scheme, Mr Gichinga notes, would play a major role in retaining our employees because of the huge turnover in the sector.

“The benefits will be immense and this will help secure their future and pursue their dreams,” he says.