Civil Servants’ Union Challenges SRC’s Suspension of salary Increment.
The Union of Kenya Civil Servants has filed a court challenge to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission’s (SRC) decision to suspend compensation increases for all civil personnel.
The union claims that the SRC’s decision denies its members’ entitlement to a pay increase. They request that the court grant a provisional order instructing SRC to delay its decision pending a hearing and resolution of the application.
“Our members and low and middle-level employees, and hence any salary cut or delay in any manner, is likely to have a significant financial impact on their daily survival,” according to the union.
They claim that there should have been two phases to the salary talks.
According to them, the first phase would run from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, and the second from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.
Budgetary constraints
On July 18, the SRC suspended wage reviews for all public employees for the fiscal year 2024/25.
The Commission stated that the prevailing budgetary constraints and budget cuts resulting from the withdrawal of the unpopular Finance Bill, 2024, spurred the move.
The SRC further stated that the bill’s withdrawal put a strain on the financial allocation for upward reviews of public servant compensation and benefits.
The SRC further ordered the use of the current compensation structures within the budget allocation, with no additional funds set aside for the implementation of job evaluation results.
The review will be suspended until further notice “contingent upon the availability of funding” and recommendations from the National Treasury.
ALSO READ: TSC Initiates CPG Review, Set to Promote 51,000 of 130,000 Stagnant Teachers
Mr. Tom Odege, the secretary general of UKCS, stated that the case aims to ensure that employees in service receive an annual wage boost as specified in the fundamental framework for their respective grades.
Despite the presence of the aforementioned CBA, the SRC stopped the implementation of all public officers’ compensation reviews in the fiscal year 2024/2025 until further notice, affecting the continuing salary rise.
Civil Servants’ Union Challenges SRC’s Suspension of salary Increment.
