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{
    "id": 791869,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/791869/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 23,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Milemba",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13328,
        "legal_name": "Jeremiah Omboko Milemba",
        "slug": "jeremiah-omboko-milemba"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for this opportunity. I rise to support the Petition by Hon. Bowen. I thank him very much for having talked on behalf of all the unions in this country. I want to plead with this Parliament, holistically so, to come and look at what unions are going through throughout the country. The Labour Relations Act was passed by this Parliament to protect the workers and worker organisations together with employers, but today, the Act is not being respected by employers. Unlike how Hon. Junet has put it, I want to draw the attention of the House to the fact that it is like unions are being killed. Unions are the greatest friends of the Government. In 1952 when we had the struggle for Independence and all political party leaders were in prison, trade unions took up the mantle to struggle for Independence until when the state of emergency was lifted and the politicians came back. So, I want to plead with the relevant committee to look at this Petition and see that trade unions get their monthly subscriptions. Currently, unions are suffering, especially the teachers’ unions. It takes more than four weeks after the deductions are made for the unions to receive the money. These unions are now suffering. They are closing doors and are relieving some of their employees. Agency fee is recognised by the UN Convention and it was adopted by the Kenya Government through an Act of Parliament. It is not punitive. The agency fees simply talk about the struggle of the unions and their negotiations. There are workers who are not members of unions. So, they are supposed to pay agency fee, which will not be above the normal union dues. It is the same as the normal union dues or below. This goes a long way to help the unions in arbitration, representation and lobbying activities for the workers. It is not a punitive thing. If any worker is overcommitted, there is a provision that it is not deducted until later when he has the ability to honour the payments. With those many remarks, I want to ask the relevant committee and parliamentarians to help unions in Kenya so that they do not die. As I finalise, the amendments coming want to gag the unions further. I plead with the House to look at the fate of trade unions in Kenya. I thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker."
}