Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu has initiated a bid to have the government increase the minimum wage by 50 percent.
In the motion filed in the Senate, the lawmaker wants Labour CS Florence Bore to increase the pay.
“Labour CS in consultation with the wage council and in accordance with the Labour Institution Act, 2007 [should] publish a new order to increase the minimum wage by 50 percent,” said Nyamu in the motion.
The UDA senator argued that the current minimum wage is too little in the wake of skyrocketing cost of living.
“The current minimum wages for workers in Kenya is far too low for survival in the current harsh economic conditions and the deteriorating rate of inflation,” said the legislator.
If the Senate approves and the government adopts, the minimum wage will shoot to Sh22,680.
Last year, the government increased the wage by 12 percent. This implies that currently, the minimum wage stands at Sh13, 572.
Nyamu argued that increasing the wage would motivate the workers and increase their productivity.
“Better payments for workers mean more productivity by the same worker translating into increased return by the employer as well as more revenues by the government,” she added.
“Labour is one of the most important factors of production which is very critical to growth and development of any economy.”
She added that better remuneration for the workers will boost the economy as they spend locally thus high revenue for the government.
“Workers form the largest part of the consumer base for most goods and services produced in any economy."
“The government collects huge revenue from employees in form of taxes and other statutory deductions,” said the first-term senator.
