Civil servants face uncertain future as salary reviews put on hold amid harsh economic times
The Public Service Commission (PSC) has attributed the stagnation of salaries to the ongoing global financial crisis, which has significantly impacted the country’s economic performance.
Civil servants will have to brace for tougher times as the government has no immediate plans to review their salaries, despite the prevailing harsh economic conditions in the country amid salary delays.
The Public Service Commission (PSC) has attributed the stagnation of salaries to the ongoing global financial crisis, which has significantly impacted the country’s economic performance. As a result, salary increments for government employees remain uncertain.
More To Read
- Broken promises as administrative delays leave civil servants without health benefits
- Auditor General: 47,300 Government employees taking home less than legal salary limit
- Nearly 9,000 civil servants exit as government maintains hiring freeze
- Public servants hit hardest by rising cost of living - report
PSC Vice-Chairperson Mary Kimonye emphasized that salary reviews are directly tied to the country’s revenue collection.
She explained that due to the slow economy, any demands for higher wages may not be feasible at this time.
“So long as the economy is not growing at the rate we want it to grow, even the agitation for higher salaries just becomes an agitation,” Kimonye said.
She made these comments while addressing the press on the sidelines of the sixth Women in HR Convention in Naivasha, organised by the Institute of Human Resource Management (IHRM).
Mental health
The PSC also acknowledged that economic hardships have contributed to increasing cases of mental health issues among government workers.
In response, the government has introduced measures to detect and address mental health challenges early, including appointing mental health champions in every department.
“There was a time we experienced a worrying trend of suicides, particularly within the police force. The government has since put mechanisms in place to address mental health concerns,” Kimonye stated.
Kimonye further revealed that women remain underrepresented in the public service workforce, accounting for only 38% compared to 62% for men.
She assured that the government is working towards achieving a more balanced workforce, ensuring that public service roles are filled by individuals with the right skills, attitude, and competencies.
Meanwhile, IHRM Executive Director Quresha Abddullahi highlighted the need for more women in senior leadership positions within the HR profession.
She noted that although many women work in human resource roles, their representation at the executive level remains low.
“As per statistics, women may be the majority in our nation, but the jobs they hold are mostly in lower cadres. We must leverage existing policies and legal frameworks to create better workplaces and elevate more women into leadership roles,” Abddullahi said.
IHRM Vice-Chair Beatrice Bii echoed similar sentiments, reaffirming the organization's commitment to promoting diversity and women’s leadership in the HR profession.
“Our advocacy efforts to raise the profile of HR in Kenya are yielding results, and we are now well-represented in various institutions, including independent commissions and selection panels,” Bii stated.
Top Stories Today
