Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has pleaded with MPs to dismiss bills that continue to propose tax deductions on workers.

Speaking at a funeral in Kakamega county, Atwoli urged Ikolomani MP Bernard Shinali to withdraw the unemployment insurance authority Bill.

According to the drafted Bill, employees who become unemployed or their respective beneficiaries will be able to get salaries.

This will be done through the establishment of an Unemployment Insurance Fund to which both the employer and employee will contribute.

Shinali noted that the bill will cushion the unemployed against harmful socio-economic effects of unemployment.

However, Atwoli said imposing more taxes on workers is hurting their payslips which in return is leaving them empty-handed.

Read also:

No First Year Has Been Asked to Pay Any Cent, MOE

Four Teachers Arrested Over Suspected School Arson

Teachers in Kilifi Demand Enhanced House Allowance

TSC Orders Schools to Establish Office of Career Services

Inside Salaried Kenyans’ New Unemployment Insurance Tax

TSC Extends Deadline For Application of September Promotion Vacancies

How to Retrieve and Print Past TPAD Reports For TSC Promotions

Teachers on Acting Capacity to Get Allowances After Rejection of Bill Denying Them Allowances

“I would want to plead with Shinali to abandon anything related to the employment levy because people’s payslips are being deducted heavily. We don’t have anything left on our payslips,” Atwoli said.

“If we have not yet become economically viable as a country we cannot be able to grow our economy. Kenya Kwanza is now putting a mechanism into place to see whether it can spur economic growth. But before that let us not add another burden to Kenyans.”

Since the passage of President William Ruto Finance Act 2023, employees in the formal sector have been making a monthly contribution of 3 per cent to the Housing Fund since July 1.

The levy is payable by the employee and employer at a rate of 1.5 per cent each.

Read also:

Teachers’ July 2022 Basic Salaries and All allowances after 7-10% Increment

All Teachers to Undergo Mandatory CBC Training in New Taskforce Proposals

SRC’s New Payment Plans For Public Servants-Teachers Win

Examiners and Invigilators to Wait Longer as KNEC Receives Less Funds

State Under Pressure to address challenges facing CBC

Ministry Orders schools to settle Their Arrears With postal corporation

Distribution of 2000 P1 Teaching Posts in Each County

Distribution of 18,000 JSS Vacancies Per County

Current House Allowance Per Job Group

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has revealed that teachers will be the most beneficiaries in the controversial housing program.

Speaking during the laying of Foundation stone of the Science Complex building at Nairobi School, the CS said teachers are living in poorly constructed homes and should take advantage of the program.

“Most of the houses our teachers live in are not in the best condition, now that their employer (the government) will also contribute towards it,” he said.

Read also:

Kipsang: Secondary Schools to Get Capitation Next Week

Crisis as Universities Operate Without Vice Chancellors

KNUT, KUPPET Launch Fresh Push For Salary Review Ahead of 3% Deduction

Keveye Girls Reject New Principal on a Second Landing Attempt

Confusion in TSC Over Nancy Macharia’s Retirement or Completion of Contract

KNEC: The Public Was Misled on 2022 KCSE Leakage

Ruto: 35,000 New Teachers Will Be Employed in the Next Financial Year

Machogu also told the teachers that the housing levy is a stepping stone toward owning homes.

His statement comes amidst backlash of the housing levy, with the opposition saying the move will harm Kenyan’s pockets.

Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga said the contribution of 3 per cent toward the project will be mandatory.

The PS said this will ensure the government confidently get investors for the housing plan, with the assurance that they will be able to pay them after construction is done.

“The housing fund is a mandatory contribution by employer and employee… Then as a country, we are able to go out to the market and call investors and tell them to bring their money, build houses en mass and when they finish building, give us the keys, get paid, and go,” he said.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said the government should listen to Kenyans and let them decide on the Housing Levy.

Sifuna said the people are living hand to mouth and cannot be forced to save an amount they don’t have.

“We don’t look for jobs to pay taxes, we look for jobs to improve our financial standing to help our families come out of poverty and feed our children, take the levy to the people and let them decide on whether they want to pay or not,” he said.