Kenya has a new (higher) minimum wage

Employees earning minimum wage can look forward to having their salaries increased by 6% following a government directive by Labour Cabinet Secretary Dr. Alfred Mutua.

This means that domestic workers, farm workers, farm artisans, tractor drivers, combine harvest drivers, and lorry drivers will see their wages increased by 6% starting Nov 1.

The directive follows negotiations by the government, trade unionists, and employers to ensure a structured approach to the wage increase, leading to the establishment of the National Wages Council.

Under the new wage schedule, unskilled employees will earn a minimum of Sh7,997 while skilled and semi-skilled workers will see higher minimums starting at 9,129 per month. The main sectors affected include domestic, agricultural and manufacturing industries but the directive will also cover other areas.

Following the announcement, the Central Organization of Trade Unions (Kenya) directed its affiliate unions to negotiate a two-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on behalf of their members in response to harsh economic conditions facing workers across the nation.

Higher wages will mean that employees in the minimum wage category can look forward to much-needed relief as the cost of living continues to rise.

The government expects employers to adjust their staff’s payslips to conform to the directive by November 1, 2024.