Concerned About Flat Rate Salary Deductions, Teachers Unions

Concerned About Flat Rate Salary Deductions, Teachers Unions

Concerned About Flat Rate Salary Deductions, Teachers Unions. In a recent shocking move, the Teachers Service Commission, which is constitutionally responsible with registering, recruiting, promoting, and exercising disciplinary control over teachers, reduced the instructors’ pay for July by a predetermined amount of KSH 320.

Many teachers are disappointed by this decision, especially those who were hoping for the pay raise that President William Samoei Ruto had promised on June 30. Unfortunately, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission’s (SRC) delay in assessing pay has prevented the implementation of this promised boost.

According to the Daily Nation, the SRC has finished the process of obtaining public input and is getting ready to publish the reviews. This would enable government ministries, departments, and agencies to make the necessary salary adjustments. Teachers who were already making contributions to the Public Service Superannuation Scheme were also surprised by the deduction of KSH 320 for the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), especially after the government withdrew free pensions.

It is still unclear why the Teachers Service Commission chose this particular deduction given the minimum NSSF payment is KSH 600, up from KSH 200 earlier.

Notably, teachers were spared from the 1.5% affordable housing deductions until a lawsuit challenging the Finance Act 2023 is being resolved. Edward Obwocha, who oversees secondary teachers for the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), responded to these deductions by saying that if the anticipated 10 percent increase in pay is realized, the union would not fight the deductions. In light of the revised gasoline costs, Obwocha stated that talks with the TSC are still underway in order to address the high rate of inflation and maybe raise commuter allowances.

These developments cause serious concerns regarding the financial security and welfare of Kenyan teachers. Utilize our commenting system to express your ideas and opinions on this subject.