Labour Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore has opposed Public Service CS Moses Kuria's proposal to change civil servants' employment terms.
Speaking on Wednesday, May 1, Labour CS described Kuria's proposal as a personal opinion that has not received a nod from the Cabinet.
Kuria had hinted at scrapping the permanent employment basis in the Public Service and replacing it with a contractual system.
However, the Labour CS assured civil servants that their jobs were safe.
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"I want to assure Kenyan workers, especially in the Public Service that their jobs are safe. The opinions they heard from my colleague were personal opinions and we have not discussed them at the Cabinet level," Bore stated during an interview with the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).
Nonetheless, CS Bore vowed to defend the workers rights if the proposal is tabled in Cabinet.
"So they should be comfortable to work because it it something that has not been discussed and if anything comes up I will be defending the rights of workers," she insisted.
Kuria had earlier announced that he will present the proposal when the Cabinet convenes for its meeting. The CS said the government is committed to slashing the wage bill, part of the scheme being scrapping employment of staff on permanent terms.
"If the doctors think that we are against them, this week on Friday I will be moving to Cabinet to present a proposal, which if Cabinet approves, all government workers at the national government from drivers to cleaners, everybody would be converted to contracts, there is not going to be anybody permanent anymore," Kuria said.
The CS said those who wish to be hired on permanent terms will have to prove that their tenure on earth is permanent.
He said should the Cabinet give his recommendation a nod of approval, everyone, including the President, will serve on contract. Kuria, however, noted that the terms will be pensionable.
