Nairobi — President William Ruto has committed to the ratification of two outstanding International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions in a bid to safeguard the welfare of the workers.
Speaking on Monday at Nairobi's Uhuru Gardens during Labour Day celebrations, Ruto said the ratification process will be discussed in the next cabinet meeting and subsequent efforts to mobilize the required support will be led by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The conventions in question are the convention on decent work for domestic workers -- ILO Convention No. 189 -- and ILO Convention No. 190, which aims to eliminate violence and harassment in the workplace.
The Head of State expressed his commitment to have Kenya ratify both conventions within three months.
"In the next three months, we will have concluded the ratification of those two conventions so that we can protect the Kenyan worker as they serve our country and as they work hard for our nation," he said.
President Ruto said that every worker deserves to live in a healthy environment and secure a decent retirement.
Protecting labour rights
Available data projected the number of people in employment in Kenya at 18.3 million in 2021 with an estimated increase of 900,000 new employees compared to 2020.
Roughly 15.3 million of these worked in informal setups, whereas 3.1 million were employed in the formal sector.
ILO is tasked with promoting social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights, pursuing its founding mission that social justice is essential to universal and lasting peace.
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It ILO brings together governments, employers and workers representatives of 187 UN Member States to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men.
ILO's Decent Work agenda helps advance the economic and working conditions that give all workers, employers and governments a stake in lasting peace, prosperity and progress.
The ILO aims to ensure that it serves the needs of working women and men by bringing together governments, employers and workers to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes.
"The very structure of the ILO, where workers and employers together have an equal voice with governments in its deliberations, shows social dialogue in action," statement posted in ILO's website states.
It ensures that the views of the social partners are closely reflected in ILO labour standards, policies and programmes.
