COTU Wants President Ruto To Increase Minimum Wage By 50%
Benson Okwaro, Deputy Secretary General of the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU), has urged the government to raise the minimum wage by at least 50 percent.
During an interview with the media, Okwaro remarked that the government has been steadily increasing Kenyans’ tax burden.
“The government ought to look at how to widen their tax regime. There are so many other areas they can do it, but we find it unacceptable that they have to take this money from the employees,” Okwaro said.
COTU stated that if President William Ruto grants their request for a salary increase, Kenyans will be protected from the newly revised fuel prices and the increase in the cost of essential goods.
“It has reached a stage where we are busy working for the sake of trying to struggle and pay our bills, and that’s it.”
The country’s current minimum wage is Sh15,200 per month. This comes after former President Uhuru Kenyatta announced a 12 percent increase in May 2022.
Thursday, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority announced that the retail price of premium petrol and diesel will now exceed Sh200.
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This displeased Kenyans, including COTU chief Francis Atwoli.
The price of petrol has gone up by Sh16.96 per liter while diesel has increased by about Sh21.32 per liter. The unit price of kerosene increases by Sh33.13.
Atwoli asserted that it is now crucial for Kenyan workers to be represented on the EPRA board, as a Cotu representative will ensure that workers’ concerns are taken into account when regulatory decisions regarding energy pricing are made.
“COTU (K) represents the interests of workers across various sectors, including those in the energy industry. Given the significant impact of electricity prices on workers and their households, workers must be represented on the Epra Board,” he said.
The Cotu chief stated that the addition must be made by amending Section 12 of the 2019 Energy Act.
“COTU (K) has experts in the energy sector who can contribute valuable expertise to the Epra board. Their knowledge of labor issues and the energy market can enrich discussions and lead to more informed decisions,” he said.
COTU Wants President Ruto To Increase Minimum Wage By 50%
