Teachers’ Pay Cut Sparks Senate Probe
The salaries of ECDE teachers in Kirinyaga County have been allegedly cut without following proper procedures, prompting an investigation by senators.
Legislators will investigate what happened to prevent payment of salary in March and April of 2023, with a prorated amount being paid by hand in May of that year.
Senator James Kamau Murango of Kirinyaga suggested calculating how much the out-of-order compensation review would hurt teachers’ ability to pay bills and support their families.
The inquiry will be carried out by the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare.
Murango has requested that the county disclose whether or not it has complied with the Petition No. E026 of 2023 filed with the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Nairobi requesting an inter-parties hearing to resolve the parties’ disagreements over the SRC’s salary recommendation.
He also asked that the Ministry in charge of early childhood and primary education explain the steps they’ve done to end the crisis and get things back to normal across the country.
The Kenyan government has passed legislation protecting employees from having their salary cut without their knowledge or participation, even if the company is experiencing financial difficulties.
The employer and worker still need to have a talk and come to terms on anything.
One party to an employment agreement cannot alter the terms of the agreement without the other’s consent.
Employees are more inclined to accept a pay cut as a means to avoid being laid off or threatened with termination in the current economic climate.
An employer can end an employment contract with a notice period and a new contract at a lower wage if they so want.
Teachers’ Pay Cut Sparks Senate Probe