Labour PS Warns Employers Violating Minimum Wage Laws

Job seekers queue for interviewers at a Nakuru County government office on Tuesday, January 2021. 

Photo

 

Nakuru County Government

Labour Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime has warned employers who pay workers below the legally mandated minimum wage, stating they will face legal consequences. Speaking during an interview with Bahari FM on Tuesday, April 15, Mwadime emphasized that the Ministry of Labour will work closely with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to ensure offenders are prosecuted.

 

"I met with the DPP three months ago, and we developed strategies to deal with employers violating minimum wage laws," he said. "The minimum wage is enshrined in our Constitution, both in urban and rural areas, and we will ensure those defying it are taken to court."

Currently, the minimum monthly wage for full-time workers in Kenya stands at Ksh15,201, unless a sector-specific agreement dictates otherwise. The law is designed to ensure fair compensation and uphold decent living standards for workers, while supporting economic sustainability.

Labour Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime. PHOTO/Courtesy.

Mwadime also addressed the country's high youth unemployment rate, assuring that the government is actively pursuing opportunities for Kenyans abroad. He cited Germany as one of the countries cooperating with Kenya to fast-track work permits and employment access.

"Germany has promised to send more officers to its embassy in Kenya to expedite work permits," Mwadime stated. "They’ve also deployed attachés from their chamber of commerce with job listings."

To further this initiative, a Kenyan delegation will soon conduct a roadshow in Germany to identify job opportunities, which will then be shared with the youth.

"We’ll visit various German cities, identify available jobs, and return to inform Kenyans of the specific opportunities they can apply for," Mwadime added.