Wage review raises salaries for house helps to Sh16,113 across cities
By Maureen Kinyanjui |
Studies have shown that many domestic workers earn around Sh8,841, much less than the new minimum wage.
Domestic workers in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, and Nakuru are set to benefit from a pay increase, following new wage guidelines published by the Ministry of Labour.
The increase, which raises the basic monthly pay for house helps to Sh16,113, marks an increase from the previous rate of Sh15,200 set in 2018. This translates to a daily increase of Sh775 or Sh144 per hour.
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The new minimum wage will apply to various domestic and industrial workers across the cities, including cleaners, gardeners, housemaids, children's ayahs, house servants, and messengers.
The wage adjustment also affects night watchmen, who will now earn Sh17,976 per month in Nairobi and other cities, up from Sh16,959.
Those working in municipalities on the outskirts of Nairobi will earn Sh16,665 per month. Workers in other areas and municipalities, such as Mavoko, Ruiru, and Limuru, will also get wage increases.
In these regions, domestic workers will receive Sh14,866 per month, while those in other rural areas will be paid Sh8,596 monthly.
The new wage structure is part of a broader revision of workers' pay across different sectors.
The increase comes as part of President William Ruto's directive during the 2024 Labour Day celebrations to raise the minimum wage by 6 per cent.
The move aims to help ease the financial burden on workers, particularly those in domestic and industrial sectors, who have been struggling with stagnant wages for several years.
"This increase will have a significant impact on the lives of workers, particularly in urban areas, where the cost of living continues to rise," said Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua.
The new pay rates apply to workers in all cities, with additional adjustments for other professions like miners, drivers, waiters, and loggers, who will also benefit from similar wage increases.
For example, miners and stone cutters in cities will now receive Sh17,402 per month, while machine attendants, sawmill workers, and tailors will earn Sh18,263 monthly.
Those employed as receptionists, clerks, and telephone operators will see their monthly wages rise to Sh24,818 in cities, and Sh22,689 in municipalities such as Mavoko, Ruiru, and Limuru.
The wage review follows a call by the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) for a larger wage increase, with the union advocating for a 24 per cent hike. However, employers have resisted the proposed hike, citing that many employees already earn above the minimum wage.
Despite this, studies have shown that many domestic workers earn much less than the new minimum wage, with the average monthly earnings of a domestic worker estimated at around Sh8,841.
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