Good News To All Civil Servants As Govt Signs CBA with Unions

Good News To All Civil Servants As Govt Signs CBA with Unions

This morning in Nairobi, the Government and the Kenya Union of Civil Servants officially signed the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for the 2021–2025 cycle.

Mr. Amos Gathecha, the principal secretary of the State Department for Public Service, who presided over the event, emphasized the importance of collaborating with trade unions to negotiate CBAs that benefit public employees. The aim is to foster positive labor relations and prevent industrial actions within the public service.

Gathecha pointed out that the previous fragmented approach to collective bargaining negotiations, lacking a common negotiating body and framework, had led to multiple CBAs signed by various public sector entities at both the national and county government levels.

These agreements often deviated from standard norms and terms of service for employees, resulting in inconsistencies in pay and benefits, delays in negotiations, labor disputes, and disruptions in public service delivery.

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To address these challenges, the State Department for Public Service, in collaboration with relevant government agencies, has developed a framework to standardize and guide collective bargaining negotiations in the public service.

Key areas of focus include terms and conditions of the CBA with the Kenya Union of Civil Servants (UKCS), comprehensive medical and group life insurance schemes for civil servants, and the development of a payroll management policy to ensure a sustainable public service wage bill.

Gathecha noted that the negotiation process, which covered salaries, allowances, employer-employee relations, leave entitlements, medical benefits, and cessation of employment, has been successfully completed as part of the CBA. The budget allocation for this CBA is Ksh 1,135,408,744, set to take effect on July 1st, 2023.

The second phase, commencing on July 1st, 2024, will operate on a budget of Kshs. 1,126,486,162. The Salaries Review Commission has also approved budgets of Kshs. 115,071,472 for the first phase and Kshs. 223,694,412 for the second phase of the home allowance review.

Good News To All Civil Servants As Govt Signs CBA with Unions