Workers to strike over NHIF rates

Trade Union Congress of Kenya secretary-general Wilson Sossion (left) and national chairman Tom Odege address the media in Nairobi on June 19, 2015 where they announced a seven day strike notice if the government fails to cancel the new NHIF rates. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Trade Union Congress of Kenya serves acting Labour CS with seven day notice.
• Union says workers were not consulted over the new rates.

By OTIATO GUGUYU
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Workers are planning to lay down their tools across the country on July 1 if the government does not revoke the new National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) rates.

Trade Union Congress of Kenya (TUC-K) secretary-general Wilson Sossion on Friday served acting Labour Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo a seven-day strike notice to revoke the gazette notice enforcing the new rates.

TUC also wants the government to refund the money that has been collected since April under the new rates.

Mr Sossion, who was speaking at the Kenya National Union of Teachers offices in Nairobi, said he has also served the notice to the Cabinet secretaries for Education, Devolution, Transport and Health.

The strike is also likely to hit county governments and the private sector whose workers contribute to the fund.

“The government has up to the midnight of June 30th to put its house in order and remedy the situation or face a strike,” he said.

FAILED TO CONSULT

Mr Sossion said that the rates were unconstitutional since the government failed to consult with the workers before enforcing them.

He claimed that they were gazetted in February at a time when the government promised to meet them and discuss recommendations by workers.

TUC was proposing a change in the fund's management to increase the number of workers' representatives sitting on its board.

Mr Sossion claimed the NHIF has suffered political interference and corruption and workers would not allow their money to go there unless this changed.

He says that workers initially welcomed the review of rates but will now oppose any increment beyond Sh320 per month.

TUC has also threatened to join the Opposition's Okoa Kenya movement seeking to change the Constitution.

The union accuses the Salaries and Remuneration Commission of infringing on workers' rights by carrying out job evaluations which, TUC claims, is a preserve of a ministry.

Mr Sossion said it was unfortunate that a body created to do specific duties has taken the duties of the Ministry of Labour whose policies are in line with International Labour Organisation conventions.

“We are opposed to the labour policy and habit of government secretly generating policy and launching them colourfully. We will bring them down in a day,” he said.