County workers slam SRC move to cut ECDE teachers salaries
The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has sparked controversy over its recent directive for county governments to reduce the salaries of Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) Teachers from a high of over KES 20,000 in some counties to a minimum of KES 7,836.
Through their representatives at the Kenya County Governments Union (KCGWU), county workers have differed with the SRC’s proposals, claiming that they were not consulted in the process.
KCGWU Secretary General, Roba Duba, said, “As you are aware this union represents the Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) teachers on matters Labour, and at no given time was the union consulted in coming up the grading and salary structures which is totally against the law.”
Following a request from governors, SRC conducted a job evaluation for ECDE teachers and issued a grading and salary structure for the teachers.
In their recommendations to all 47 governors, SRC proposed the lowest ECDE teachers (ECDE Teacher III (Certificate) be paid a minimum salary of KES 7,836 and a maximum of KES 8,717, while the highest ECDE teacher (Senior ECDE Teacher I (Diploma)) should receive a minimum salary of KES 15,224 and a maximum of KES 19,090.
The counties of Vihiga, Homa Bay, Kisii, and West Pokot have already indicated that they will implement the SRC’s recommendations.
The SRC’s CEO, Anne Gitai, revealed that the commission has developed the salary structure based on the results of job evaluation after holding consultative meetings with relevant stakeholders.
In response to the SRC’s recommendations, the KCGWU implores the commission to “rescind the said circular and ensure all the stakeholders are brought on board and that the process is satisfactory and transparent to ensure the rights of the ECDE teachers are well protected as required by law.”