Secretary General of the Central Organization of Trade Unions, Kenya, (COTU-K) Francis Atwoli and four other Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) failed to attend a meeting convened by Labour Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore scheduled for Thursday, March 28.
The meeting, slated to be held in her office, was aimed at addressing the concerns over the minimum wage policy for private security officers that has elicited debate in the past two months.
In an invitation letter, the CS invited Atwoli, Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) CEO Jacqueline Mugo, Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) CEO Fazul Mahamed and the Chairman of the Private Security Regulatory Authority.
Others included Kenya National Private Security Workers Union Secretary General Issac Andabwa, SENACA Security Services Managing Director Annette Kimitei, Kenya Security Industry Association Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Protective and Safety Association of Kenya Cosmas Mutava.
Reports indicated that the stakeholders failed to attend the meeting owing to the short notice as the invitation was sent a day before the scheduled meeting.
Bore's efforts to convene a meeting come amid a gathering by private security guards slated for Uhuru Park in Nairobi on Saturday, March 30, for mass registration and issuance of guard force numbers.
Observers also speculate that the gathering will seek to organise a demonstration to push for PSRA's recommendation of a minimum salary of Ksh30,000.
CS Bore, however, declined to approve the recommendations, citing that the matter is still in court.
“As a Ministry, we cannot authenticate the stated publications and this is best responded to by the Ministry of Interior and National Administration or the Authority who are referred to in the publications,” Bore's statement dated January 31, 2024, read in part.
“As the matter is sub judice, I will not discuss the merits or demerits of the issues raised therein. We are confident the Court will render a just and fair verdict, in accordance with our Constitution and the law,” she remarked.
Her statement came after PSRA gave companies a 30-day ultimatum to comply with the new minimum wage structure.
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