• The Bill aimed to extend long weekends by declaring the preceding Monday a public holiday when a holiday falls on a Tuesday.
• Likewise, it suggests designating the succeeding Friday as a public holiday when a holiday falls on a Thursday.
Image: FILE
A Senate committee has rejected a Bill sponsored by Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang'wa seeking to create more public holidays.
The National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations Committee wants the Public Holidays (Amendment) Bill, 2023 that seeks more holidays dropped.
The committee chaired by Baringo Senator William Cheptumo said creating more holidays will hurt the country’s economy and recommended to the House to stop processing it.
“Consequently, the committee recommends that the Bill does not proceed to the next stage in the legislative process,” the panel said in its report.
The Bill was introduced in the Senate for first reading before it was committed to the committee to conduct public participation on it and file a report to the House on its suitability.
“The Bill has the potential to cause adverse effects on the country, its economy and the rights of employers,” the report reads.
The Bill aimed to extend long weekends by declaring the preceding Monday a public holiday when a holiday falls on a Tuesday.
Likewise, it suggests designating the succeeding Friday as a public holiday when a holiday falls on a Thursday.
Thang’wa argued that the primary objective of his proposed legislation is to put the well-being of Kenyan workers first and to invigorate the tourism industry.
“Public holidays are designed to provide workers with time off from their jobs to rest and recharge, spend time with family and friends, and celebrate important events or traditions, and are often associated with travel and tourism,” Bill says.
It further says extending public holidays can help ensure that workers have enough time to fully enjoy their time off and take care of their physical and mental health.
“Public holidays also seek to support economic growth, as they are often associated with travel and tourism, and extending public holidays may encourage Kenyans to take longer trips or visit destinations farther away from their homes,” the proposed law states.
It adds, “Essentially, such an extension would promote the hospitality and tourism industries."
Thang’wa argued that public holidays are designed to provide workers with time off from their jobs to rest and recharge, spend time with family and friends, and celebrate important events or traditions, and are often associated with travel and tourism.
But the committee, which scrutinised the Bill, says that does not address the well-being of the Kenyan workers as argued by its sponsor, adding that the lot are already entitled to leave days.
“Whereas it is important to consider the well-being of employees and work-life balance, this must be approached in a cautious manner to ensure that economic growth of the country is not affected,” the committee stated.
The panel added that some businesses have specific output targets, therefore, reducing the business working days as a result of the extension of public holidays may mean that employers would be compelled to meet the cost of salary payments for days not worked.
The employers, he said, may also be forced to incur hefty overtime compensation as a result of employees working on a public holiday.
Further, the committee said that majority of employees in Kenya are casual labourers who rely on daily wages to meet their needs.
Therefore, a reduction in their business working days as a result of the extension of public holidays on weekdays may hinder their ability to meet the basic needs for themselves and their families.
“Public holidays also disrupt businesses by reducing working days and consequently reducing business output.”
“For instance, the public transport, manufacturing and industrial sectors may register low proceeds during the holiday,” the report reads.