The Ministry of Labour on Thursday launched a collaborative project with China’s Ministry of Human Resources and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) that is set to provide a framework to protect workers in the informal sector.
In an official statement from Kenya's Labour Ministry, Cabinet Secretary (CS) Alfred Mutua insisted that there was a need to ensure equal rights and benefits for all workers regardless of their sector.
“During the launch of a collaborative project between Kenya, China, and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), I emphasised our government’s commitment to ensuring equal rights and benefits for all workers, regardless of their sector,” Mutua stated.
“The informal sector forms the backbone of Kenya’s economy, employing a significant portion of our workforce. However, due to limited social protection measures, many informal workers face cycles of poverty, vulnerability, and social exclusion."
"Our mission is to change this narrative by building a comprehensive framework that extends social protection to informal workers, leveraging digital transformation to bring more people under the safety net,” the CS added.
Mutua further stated that the project launch is a crucial step that will ensure an improvement in data collection for the vulnerable, including Kenyan workers in the informal sector.
“The launch of this project, undertaken in partnership with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of China and the ILO, marks a crucial step towards improving data collection, registration, and the delivery of social protection services to those who need them the most,” Mutua noted.
According to the CS, this initiative also reflects the long-standing crucial collaborations between the two nations that have led to the formulation of crucial milestones like the Social Protection Bill and the Kenya Social Protection Policy.
The initiative is expected to provide a framework that provides informal workers with the tools to access essential services, improve their livelihoods, and contribute more effectively to the growth of Kenya’s economy. It is expected to make the social protection system more inclusive.
He also noted that the ministry will work closely with stakeholders such as the Central Organisation of Trade Unions COTU) and the Federation of Kenya Employees (FKE) to ensure that the framework is effected efficiently.
“It is time we recognise the immense contribution of informal sector workers by providing them with the security and support they deserve,” he added.
The launch was attended by several stakeholders in the labour industry including a delegation from China led by the Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Security of China Li Zhong, the PS Social Protection and Senior Citizens Affairs Joseph Motari, Managing Trustee for NSSF David Koros, ILO Director Caroline Khamati Mugalla, and representatives from both COTU and FKE.
