Atwoli Directs Employers to Implement Ruto’s 12% Wage Increase as Nationwide Adjustment
Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Central Organisation of Trade Unions Francis Atwoli has issued a strong directive to employers across Kenya, urging full compliance with President William Ruto’s recent announcement on wage adjustments.
His remarks came on Saturday, May 2, following what he described as growing confusion and misinterpretation among sections of the public and some employers regarding the nature of the pay increase.
Atwoli clarified that the 12 per cent wage increment announced by William Ruto is not limited to minimum wage earners. Instead, he emphasized that it is a general wage increase meant to apply broadly to all workers in formal employment across the country.
According to him, some employers have wrongly interpreted the directive as only affecting workers at the lower end of the salary scale, which he insists is incorrect.
He specifically addressed the Federation of Kenya Employers, represented by its executive director Jacqueline Mugo of the Federation of Kenya Employers, urging the body to align itself with the government’s official position.
Atwoli warned against any attempts to narrow the scope of the directive, stating that doing so would go against the spirit and intention of the Head of State’s announcement during Labour Day celebrations.
“The President was very clear. This is a general wage increase for all Kenyan workers. It is not restricted to minimum wage earners as some employers are trying to suggest,” Atwoli said.
He further stressed that even workers who recently benefited from a 15 per cent minimum wage adjustment, particularly in the agricultural sector, are still eligible for the additional 12 per cent increase.
Atwoli also rejected claims circulating among some employer groups that Kenya’s wage bill would become unsustainable.
He argued that similar adjustments have been implemented in previous administrations without collapsing businesses, insisting that employers have the capacity to absorb the changes if properly planned.
In his remarks, Atwoli also criticized media reporting on the matter, particularly a front-page story by Standard Media Group titled “Workers Let Down”.
The article had questioned the effectiveness of the wage increase and included criticism of statements made during Labour Day by President Ruto, Atwoli himself, and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
He described the headline as misleading and argued that it undermined the progress being made to improve workers’ welfare.
According to him, calculating a 12 per cent increase on existing salaries results in a meaningful improvement in take-home pay, which should not be dismissed as insignificant.
“A general wage increase will move Kenyans to a higher standard than where they are now. When you calculate 12 per cent of your salary and add it, it cannot be called a letdown to workers as some reports are suggesting,” Atwoli stated.
He concluded by warning employers against selectively implementing or resisting the directive, adding that COTU will actively monitor compliance across sectors.
Atwoli reaffirmed that the union will not hesitate to take action where employers fail to follow the wage adjustment as communicated by the government.
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