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The Dock Workers Union [DWU] has demanded that the remuneration and wages of workers at the Kenya Ports Authority [KPA] must be in tandem with those of port workers worldwide.
DWU General Secretary Simon Sang said in future the collective bargaining agreement [CBA] for port workers in the country must be like that of other workers at international ports.
He said the port revenue collection is enough to cater for the remuneration and wages at international standards.
“The port of Mombasa doesn’t require a supplementary budget from the government to pay its workers the salaries they deserve,” he pointed.
Sang said they want to ensure the wages at the port of Mombasa follow the guidelines being applied worldwide.
He spoke during a media briefing held outside KPA main entrance gate in Mombasa county.
The General Secretary told the media that the port plays a crucial role as an interface that unites regional countries in East Africa with connection to world ports.
Sang insisted the port workers’ remuneration and wages must be in tandem with the revenue collection and also with international standards.
He pointed out his appointment to the Maritime Wages Council is a major advantage to the union.
“The move will be an entry point to bring changes in the struggle for workers’ remuneration and wages,” he pointed out.
The DWU spokesperson said previously the workers have compared their remuneration and wages with that of government state corporations.
Sang said the CBA will now be in line with international standards with immediate effect.
He added the new proposals are for port workers’ CBA to match with those of world class ports.
“The first move will be to deal with the 2022-2023 CBA as a litmus test for the DWU,” he pointed out.