JOURNEY TOWARDS ACHIEVING SDG 8 – DECENT WORK FOR ALL WORKERS
Every Nation, organization and individual around the world has aspirations and goals that they desire to achieve. In the same way, the nucleus of the global push towards a better and more sustainable future lies the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a universal call to action encompassing 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development represents a historic global commitment to ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring peace and prosperity for all by 2030. By addressing the root causes of poverty and inequality and integrating the three dimensions of sustainable development—i.e economy,society, and the environment—it provides a comprehensive and ambitious framework for global progress. The successful realization of this agenda requires the active participation and collaboration of governments, trade unions, civil society, the private sector, and individuals worldwide.
Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals, and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA) a trade union whose mission is representing, promoting and safeguarding the rights and welfare of all workers in the sectors they represent. This mission projects decent work for all workers that are represented by the union. Among the 17, Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8) stands out as a beacon for fostering decent work and economic growth. KUDHEIHA continues to align itself with SDG 8 and are proud to be at the forefront of this mission, driving initiatives that create inclusive and productive employment opportunities that is decent and enhance economic growth for all.
SDG 8 is a multifaceted goal with 10 different targets aiming to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. This goal is integral to building resilient economies and ensuring that economic progress is shared equitably across societies. Out of the 10 targets, KUDHEIHA is happy to report on some of our activities that touch on 4 targets:
8.3 Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro- small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services
Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institution and Hospital Workers has been working towards increasing inclusion of informal economy workers in informal markets in Nairobi. It has also increased the average hourly earnings of domestic workers by actively lobbying the Government through Central Organization of Trade Unions – Kenya (COTU-K). The Union increased the level of compliance with labour rights by registering at least 63 CBAs in 2023. In 2021, the Union partnered with National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to train workers from different sectors including domestic workers on social protection. In 2024, the Union engaged 50 domestic workers in Nairobi and Mombasa on a training session on labour rights and social protection that increased awareness on the need and importance of access to social protection programs. The Union has endeavoured to provide trainings that help domestic workers grow their skills especially soft skills and work readiness. This has been made possible through the development of a domestic worker training manual and a further simpler version of the same that Domestic workers can use on the go to learn about trade unionism, Labour Rights, Soft Skills and Work Readiness.
The union is persistent in advocating for the ratification of ILO Convention 189 through campaigns and trainings, signalling its commitment to upholding the rights of domestic workers. Through the Time To Care (TTC) program and the support of OXFAM, the Union commemorated International Women’s day on 8th March 2024.
In addition, the Union submitted comments to the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection on the Labour Migration Bill which seeks to establish and facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration.
8.5 By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
KUDHEIHA has held several media campaigns on wage differential and on the International Equal Pay Day, the Secretary General, Albert Njeru was hosted by Spice Fm (a main stream radio station in kenya) on 18th day of September 2023, where he urged all employers to ensure every worker is treated without discrimination by ensuring they all receive equal pay for equal value of work done.
Through Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), KUDHEIHA also negotiates with Employers to ensure workers in all the sector they represent receive equal pay for equal value of work. The CBAs also guide on the terms and working conditions for workers in workplaces with an aim of promoting decent work. Case in point, the CBAs contain Clauses on disciplinary process, issues to do with redundancy, termination of service, Occupational Safety and Health, Provision of work tools, Gratuity or Pension and Leaves amongst other clauses which KUDHEIHA negotiates in all its CBAs. This helps in promotion of decent work at different workplaces through provisions that balance the best interest of its members.
In cases where workers’ rights are violated, KUDHEIHA engages in social dialogue with employers with an aim of settling the dispute and in case of deadlocks, the union represents its members in the Employment Labour and Relations Court seeking for their rights and remedies to be accorded to them. In the year 2022, KUDHEIHA in partnership with Forum for International Cooperation (F.I.C) presented a petition against all forms of precarious work to the Kenyan Parliament and Executive arm of government under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.
8.7 Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms.
Through community sensitization, trainings and workshops, KUDHEIHA has been active in creating awareness on forms of child labour and advocating against all the forms of child labour in informal settlement in Nairobi such as Kibra and in Busia.
8.8 Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment.
The surge of Kenyans seeking employment in Gulf countries and other Arab States, has necessitated KUDHEIHA to be actively involved in organizing migrant workers so as to collectively push for safe migration practice. The union in partnership with ILO under the Fairway programme conducted workshops to raise awareness of intending migrant workers and returnees on the International Labour Organization (ILO) General principles and Operational Guidelines for Fair Recruitment.
The workshop also focused on safe migration and the provision of labour laws that provide protection of Labour migration. KUDHEIHA participated in the drafting of the Labour Migration Bill which will help facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration. The Union has also had several social dialogues with stakeholders such as National Employment Authority (NEA) and Ministry of Labour and Social Protection on the regulation of the private agencies. The Union is active on social media platforms and mainstream media (Radio Jambo) campaigns educating the public on labour laws, how to identify registered Agencies and role of the COTU Migration Resource Center. KUDHEIHA has also received 12 grievances concerning migrant workers. Out of the 12, 5 cases are under Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and one court case involving 6 migrant workers is filed at the at the Employment Labour and Relations Court (ELRC) is currently ongoing. One of the cases that is under ADR is on repatriation of a migrant worker who completed her contract last year 2023 but the employer is unwilling to release her demanding the migrant worker for a fine of KES. 100,000 for her exit visa.
KUDHEIHA commits to continue working towards achieving the SDG 8 on promoting decent work to all workers, whether in the formal economy or the informal economy. Join the union today as we work towards achieving this goal.