Atwoli Issues Strong Warning to Employers Over Delayed Salary Increases

The Secretary General of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU), Francis Atwoli, has issued a firm and direct warning to employers across Kenya over what he described as continued refusal and delay in increasing workers’ salaries despite existing agreements and government directives.

Speaking on Saturday, April 18, during a COTU shop stewards’ meeting held in Nairobi, Atwoli strongly criticised the Federation of Kenyan Employers (FKE) and other private sector employers.

He accused them of failing to honour signed Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), which are meant to guide salary reviews and improve workers’ conditions.

Atwoli said that many employers continue to ignore or delay the implementation of these agreements even after they have been properly negotiated and signed between workers’ unions and management.

According to him, this practice has become common and is hurting employees who are already struggling with the rising cost of living, high inflation, and increased financial pressure on households.

He warned that employers who fail to comply with agreed salary adjustments may be barred from participating in this year’s Labour Day celebrations scheduled for May 1 in Vihiga County.

The event is expected to be attended and officially presided over by President William Ruto, and workers’ unions are expected to use the occasion to push for improved wages and better working conditions.

Atwoli also expressed frustration that employers are often invited to union meetings and discussions on labour matters, yet they allegedly ignore the concerns raised by workers.

He argued that it is unfair for employers to benefit from engagement platforms while failing to respect the outcomes of negotiations.

“We do not want employers to attend our meetings or Labour Day celebrations without invitation because they do not care about our interests and often delay implementing agreements,” Atwoli stated.

He further alleged that in many cases, employers deliberately slow down negotiations for salary increases and only implement them after pressure builds up, sometimes resulting in backdated payments and accumulated arrears that should have been avoided in the first place.

Beyond salary issues, Atwoli also raised concerns about alleged tax evasion within the private sector.

He accused some companies of using shell companies and complex business structures to under-declare their income, a move he said is aimed at avoiding tax obligations to the government.

“They even try to shortchange the government by trading using shell companies so that they can fail to pay taxes. That is very unacceptable,” he added.

His remarks come at a time when pressure is increasing on the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to respond to fresh wage demands from public sector workers.

Employees from 19 independent commissions, under the Kenya Independent Commissions Workers Union, are now demanding salary increases ranging between 20 and 50 percent.

They argue that the high cost of living and delayed salary reviews have made it difficult for many workers to sustain themselves.

The union has already issued a 14-day ultimatum, demanding that formal negotiations begin immediately.

They have warned that if the government and relevant authorities fail to engage within the given timeline, it could lead to increased labour unrest and disruptions in key public institutions across the country.

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