President Uhuru Kenyatta has said he cares for the Kenyan worker and will impress upon the private sector to give them salary increments in the next labour day celebrations.
The President said a salary increment will motivate workers to produce quality products, which will ensure more customers.
He was speaking when he toured the United Aryan Company, a garment factory which is situated in Baba Dogo Export Processing Zone in Nairobi.
“For the last two years, we have not increased salaries for private sector workers. We are now saying come Labour Day, we will impress on your employers to give you a salary increment,” President Kenyatta said amid cheers and applause from the factory workers.
“However, in return you must do quality work so as to attract more customers for your products,” he added.
“I know the difficulties you face as workers. I am working to fix them and I want the private sector to do their bit,” the President said.
The President also informed the workers that in this years’ budget, the government has waived taxation on bonuses and overtime, saying this will enable Kenyan workers to improve on their lives.
“As the government, we decided to waive taxation on your bonuses and overtime allowances. This is to ensure that you concentrate on your responsibilities of producing quality products, which would in turn attract better markets,” said the President.
The President also called on the workers to register with the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), which would allow them access to quality medical services.
The President said with the NHIF card, any Kenyan is eligible to access better medical services as the Government has now improved on funding to ensure comprehensive coverage.
“We also want you to join NHIF. We want to do away with Harambees so that every citizen can access proper medical care for their well-being,” said President Kenyatta.
“Once you register and get an NHIF card, you will be able to give your family members a better healthcare because you qualify to access healthcare in both private and public facilities,” said the President.
The President thanked the United Aryan company workers for their quality work, saying the aim of the government is to ensure Kenyans can purchase new clothes at cheaper prices so as to stop buying second hand clothing.
“I am grateful for the work you are doing here. During the first ever super sale which was held in Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), hundreds of your fellow Kenyans lined up to buy what you are making here,” he said.
The President said the government, in partnership with garment and apparel making companies intends to hold similar super sales in Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu and Isiolo among other Kenyan towns.
The sale will not only offer Kenyans opportunities to buy new clothes at affordable prices but would also showcase what can be achieved when the country is united in development.
During the sale at KICC Kenyans had the opportunity to buy new high quality clothes at prices ranging from Kshs 100 to 600. The same clothes are sold at Kshs 6,000 in United States and United Kingdom markets.
At the KICC super sale 110,000 pieces of clothes were sold with over 50,000 people benefitting.
The factory, which President Kenyatta toured, has 10,000 employees and the overall group investment in Kenya is more than Kshs 8 billion.
The company also intends to invest Kshs 1.5 billion to raise the production of woven trousers as well as build the first new integrated fabric mill.
The President said, with the new investment, Kenyan cotton farmers will have a market for their produce saying that this venture will raise the income of nearly 50,000 Kenyan cotton farmers.
“These investments show the sheer commitment of United Aryan to Kenya, and validates the fact that you cannot tell the story of Kenya’s EPZ success without mention of Balaji,” said President Kenyatta.
The President was accompanied by Cabinet Secretaries Adan Mohammed and Joseph Nkaissery among other senior government officials.
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