Too many strikes hurting labour market

Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) executive director Jacqueline Mugo during a past meeting. FILE PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH |

What you need to know:

  • FKE says increased strikes by employees have put the country’s labour sector in a crisis.

The state of the labour market in the country is dysfunctional as a result of perennial strikes in various sectors of the economy, an employer’s lobby has said.

Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) executive director Jacqueline Mugo said increased strikes by employees have put the country’s labour sector in a crisis.

“Strikes in have increased because of the breakdown of social dialogue. This trend needs to change for workers and employers,” Ms Mugo said.

She spoke at a joint news conference with Central Organisation of Trade Union officials at Whitesands beach resort in Mombasa.

Ms Mugo said there were concerns that there was no dialogue and effective consultation in the review of major laws and policies affecting Kenya’s labour market.

“We are therefore calling for consultations under the leadership of the ministry of Labour in the review of employment and labour relations laws, policies and procedures to have well-meaning legislations that are not contested by parties,” said Ms Mugo.

On the existing labour laws, the parties proposed for a review of the existing labour laws and accommodate the considerable increase in the non-standard forms of employment.

“In businesses there are increased cases of   casualisation, outsourcing, contract employment, and sub-contracting. These forms of employment weaken industrial relations framework and pushes the burden of representation and protection to the employee leading with a significant negative effects on firm productivity and competitiveness,” she added.