House helps laughing all the way to the bank as a result of stringent laws

dennis kibet 13:04 - 27 February 2017

The set of laws under the Employment Act 2007 has given a much needed leeway as the existing laws heavily protect house helps across the country.

Many of these house helps have greatly cashed in after courts awarded them huge cash amounts, some up to millions of shillings as a result of unfair dismissal such as pregnancies, falling sick and sexual harassment.

The set of laws under the Employment Act 2007 has given a much needed leeway as the existing laws heavily protect house helps across the country.

According to the law, house helps in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu should not be paid less than Sh10, 974 per month.

Meanwhile those in municipalities and town councils are to be paid not less than Sh10, 107 minimum consolidated wage per month.

Strict regulations

These regulations setting minimum pay for domestic workers were introduced in 2011 to align the country with the stringent International Labour Organisation (ILO) proposals, aimed at improving the working conditions for those employed in the informal economy.

These workers are also allowed a mandatory weekly 48- hour break.

The employers are also required to make contributions to the statutory pension (NSSF) scheme and medical cover (NHIF) scheme.

The house helps are also entitled to appointment letters and receipts of payments made to them by their employers.

Costly judgements

Failure to abide by the strict regulations can result in hefty fines as witnessed in recent judgements made by the courts which have heavily favoured the house helps.