KISUMU, Kenya, April 19 – The Kenya Federation of Employers (FKE) has raised concerns with the quality of dialogue employed to unlock the impasse of doctors’ strike in the country.
FKE President Jacqueline Mugo says there is lack of seriousness to end the strike, which is heading to its 40th day.
Mugo says the public is paying the highest price during the ongoing strike as the majority only relied on public hospitals to seek for medical services.
“We are concerned by the continued doctors strike, which is heading towards 40 days and there is no end in sight,” she said.
She says the national government must put its feet down and employ negotiation tactics to bring doctors back to the hospitals.
Speaking to the press in Kisumu on Friday after attending the 43rd Annual General Meeting of Western Kenya FKE branch, Mugo says there is need for social dialogue to relieve Kenyans from the sufferings.
She called for a mutual agreement between the government and the Kenya Medical, Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) to end the strike.
“We believe that the hard stance and the hard line that is taken by all the parties involved is not working,” she said.
The President says the labour sector is dedicated for social dialogue and accommodation.Mugo says earlier signed agreements can be reviewed but that requires dialogue.
“We are appealing to the parties to use mediation and reconciliation to find a solution to the crisis that our country finds itself in,” she said.
She announced that FKE is committed to help facilitate the reconciliation process, noting that they have officers attached to the team finding the solution.
Mugo further touched on the Housing Levy saying it has escalated the cost of doing business in the country.
She says FKE is in the process of assessing the performance of enterprises having implemented all the increases in the levy.
“We are finding on the ground that the sharp increase in the cost of doing business and the increased demands for compliance by employers is actually having a negative impact,” she said.
Mugo noted that employees are also suffering since they are saying they are only taking one third of the salary home.
