The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has issued a notice of 14-days after the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) issued a statement revealing that they froze any reviews on salaries for employees in the public sector.
KUPPET Secretary-General Akelo Misori said to the media that the SRC had overstepped its mandate which is only limited to roles of giving advice and not directives.
KUPPET are of the opinion that a review on salaries and the completion of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations must happen so as to address the issues affecting classroom teachers. This is because the new job evaluations was to be captured in the CBA of the years 2021 to 2025.
“KUPPET rejects the position issued by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission on the outcome of the third public sector remuneration and benefits review cycle. The commission’s purported ban on salaries reviews for public sector employees for the next two years starting 2021-2015 was clearly beyond its mandate,” argued Akello Misori.
The SRC froze any reviews on salaries for all teachers, civil servants and state officers on Thursday blaming the economic recession that the Novel Coronavirus pandemic caused.
The SRC boss Lyn Mengich said that there shall be no increments on salaries for public servants in the two years. This in the eyes of SRC will allow the government to stabilize the economy.
“Cognizant of the government’s financial constraints, the current wage bill ratios, the need to release resources for investment in the strategic priorities of the government to jumpstart the COVID-19 ravaged economy, there will be no review of the basic salary structures, allowances and benefits paid in the public sector in the financial year 2021/2022 – 2022/2023,” said Lyn Mengich.
Besides, the Commission announced that no more funding will be directed for the implementation of the job evaluation results in the next two financial years.
“Public sector institutions may implement job evaluation results, by placing jobs in their rightful job evaluation grading, within the existing salary structures and approved budgets, subject to confirmation to SRC that the funding is provided for the current budget,” said the SRC.
According to SRC, the situation will be reviewed after two fiscal years. Based on the situation with the economy, it will guide the way forward for the remaining period of the third remuneration and benefits review cycle.
Below is SRC’s statement concerning the freezing of salary reviews.
Outcome of remuneration and benefits in the Third Remuneration Review Cycle
The review of remuneration and benefits in the third review cycle is informed by outcomes of the job evaluation and grading, labour market salary surveys and a review of the current salary structures in the public sector.
Implementation of the outcome of the third remuneration and benefits review cycle is projected to cost Ksh. 82 billion over four – fiscal-year period.
Pursuant to the constitutional principle of affordability and fiscal sustainability, SRC engaged the National Treasury on the projected Cost.
The National Treasury advised the Commission that due to the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the performance of the revenue and the expected slow economy recovery;
- The Commission to consider postponing the review for the next two fiscal years until the economy improves and;
- The National Treasury will review the performance of the economy and advise SRC as/and when the review can be done based on the prevailing circumstances to ensure affordability and fiscal sustainability.
Pursuant to SRC’s mandate to set, and regularly review the remuneration and benefit of State officers, and to advise on the remuneration and benefits of all other public officers, and to adive on the remuneration and benefits of all other public officers, the Commission considered the advice of the National Treasury, the constitutional principles and SRC Act principle on remuneration and benefits and hereby, states as follows;
Notwithstanding the need to enhance equity and fairness through harmonization of salary structures, Implementation of job evaluation results and the need to review salary structures;
Cognisant of the government’s financial constraints, the current wage bill ratios, the need to release resources for investment in the strategic prioritiesof the government to jumpstart the COVID-19 ravaged economy;
- There will be no review of the basic salary structures, allowances, and benefits paid in the public sector in the financial year 2021/2022-2022/2023;
- Annual salary notch adjustments in existing salary structures, as set or advised by SRC, will continue to be applied within budget allocation;
- No additional funding will be provided for implementation of the job evaluation results in the financial year 2021-2022 and 2022/2023;
- Public sector institutions may implement job evaluation results, by placing jobs in the rightful job evaluation grading, within the existing salary structures and approved budgets, subject to confirmation to SRC that the funding is provided for in the current budget;
- Public sector institutions will be required to fully implement the Allowances and Benefits Policy; and
- SRC will review the situation after two fiscal years, and based on the status of the economy, guide on the way forward for the remaining period of the third remuneration and benefits review cycle.
The National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani in the last week revealed that a proposed Sh. 2.5 billion has been allocated for the recruitment of new teachers in the Financial year 0f 2021/2022.
A total of Sh. 281 billion was allocated to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to aid its annual budget.
Despite the SRC issuing a salary proposal, CBA 2021-2025 was not awarded any funding.
TSC could issue their counter offer in the coming week after Mvita MP Sherrif Nassir pushing for TSC to make a counter offer for teachers which speaker Muturi ordered to be discussed in a week.
In April, the National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani informed the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) that his ministry is not going to release almost Sh. 83 billion in salary increment that the State owes to civil servants and teachers.
In a letter dated the 18th of March and also addressed to Anne Gitau, the SRC’s Secretary, Yatani attributed this to constraints in the budget because of the looming elections and the economic recession the COVID-19 has caused.
According to Ukur Yatani, the elections could cost Sh. 42 billion.
“We have already factored Sh. 10 billion in the Financial Year 2021/2022 ceilings for the preparatory activities,” said Yatani, adding that the remaining balance will be considered in the next financial year.
A drop in taxes in addition to the aforementioned issues forced the Exchequer to set aside just Sh. 6.8 Billion, or 10 per cent for the Sh. 68 Billion that was meant for the four-year salary reviews for the national government workers in the upcoming budget. County workers are excluded.
A phased disbursement is set for the financial years of 2022 to 2023 and 2023 to 2025.
Leaders of labour unions blamed Ukur Yatani for using elections and COVID-19 as scapegoats.
“The Government and employers should prepare for stiff resistance from unions,” said Kenya National Union of Teachers secretary-general Wilson Sossion.
Besides, the KNUT sec-gen said that the economy is more than capable of providing the Sh. 83 billion without affecting other sectors of the economy with almost two-fifths of the amount earmarked for teachers.