TSC Teachers & Civil Servants’ Salaries- SRC proposes new structure for CBA negotiations

𝐒𝐑𝐂 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐁𝐀 𝐧𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has recommended the establishment of a single body or multisectoral body to handle collective bargaining agreements for public servants in Kenya.

SRC Chairperson Lyn Mengich emphasised the need for a single-body approach model that addresses performance, harmonisation, sustainability, and avoids multiplicity in institutions requesting negotiations.

saying the process should be taken step by step, considering the impact on other sectors and sustainability. “The single-body process should be taken step by step until we get to the place where we desire,” she stated.

The cost of living affects all citizens, and the Commission aims to balance the interests of employees, taxpayers, and the country’s ability to manage pay rises.

She said the incoming commissioners will be looking at streamlining the allowances where inequitable pay happens in order to achieve harmonisation, noting that disparities in the allowances create a lot of inequity, noting allowances in some institutions go higher than 200 percent of basic salary.

Mengich added that SRC developed the allowances policy guideline for public service 2021 to provide a structured approach for streamlining the management and administration of allowances to improve transparency, accountability, equity, and fairness.

The incoming team will continue the process of harmonising and streamlining allowances to achieve fairness and transparency.

“SRC advises that public service employment be done on approved staff establishments vis-à-vis in-post establishments, and employees’ composition and in-post staffing levels be on the sustainability of the wage bill in the national government,” said Mengich.

To the commissioners who will take over from them, Mengich advised them to protect and adhere to the constitution and sovereignty of the people of Kenya and to put the interest of the citizenry first.

“They should balance what the public and public servants want. It is not always a comfortable position to be liked, but doing what is right as entrusted by the citizens,” she advised.