{"id":1381053,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1381053/?format=json","text_counter":208,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Funyula, ODM","speaker_title":"Hon. (Dr) Ojiambo Oundo","speaker":null,"content":"Yesterday, we stalled here for a long time trying to look for ways and means to ensure that valuable parliamentary time is not expended to discuss this Bill. I reject this on three strong grounds. One, the issue of labour relationships in this country is very big and demanding that the issue of contacting an employee after the so-called working hours does not rank anywhere in the order of priority. For a teacher teaching in Mandera, it is not a priority to them that the deputy or the student calls or not. For the workers in Industrial Area, it is not a priority what time they can be contacted by the plant operator or plant manager in an industry. It is not a priority to an unemployed person. This is not a priority in labour relationship. To the underpaid person who is hanging on to the job that he has, this is not a priority. The priority is job security, improved working conditions, better pay and the ability to improve so that they can move to the next level. I would have wished that any amendment to the Employment Act were directed towards that line. But directing us on mundane and unproductive issues is a terrible waste of national resources."}