§ 15. Mr. Haleasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the present minimum rates of pay in Kenya for industrial workers and for labourers on European farms, respectively; and these rates and
| Area | Basic Minimum Wages | Minimum House Allowance | |||||||
| Monthly Contracts | Ticket Contracts | ||||||||
| Sh. | cts. | Sh. | cts. | Sh. | cts. | ||||
| Nairobi Municipality | … | … | … | 62 | 50 | 73 | 00 | 11 | 00 |
| Mombasa Island | … | … | … | 64 | 75 | 75 | 50 | 12 | 00 |
| Eldoret Municipality | … | … | … | 59 | 00 | 69 | 00 | 9 | 00 |
| Kisumu Municipality | … | … | … | 57 | 00 | 66 | 50 | 9 | 00 |
| Kitale Municipality | … | … | … | 61 | 00 | 71 | 25 | 8 | 00 |
| Nakuru Municipality | … | … | … | 60 | 00 | 70 | 00 | 10 | 00 |
| Nanyuki Township | … | … | … | 61 | 50 | 71 | 75 | 11 | 00 |
| Nyeri Township | … | … | … | 61 | 00 | 71 | 25 | 11 | 00 |
| Thika Urban District | … | … | … | 60 | 50 | 70 | 50 | 11 | 00 |
§ the corresponding rates for 1939 in terms of purchasing power of posho at current prices in each case.
§ Mr. LytteltonThe statutory minimum rates in urban areas vary from township to township and I will, therefore, with permission, circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
There are no statutory minimum wages in agricultural areas, but the average minimum rate paid there is 20s. to 25s. per month plus free rations and housing.
No reliable comparisons can be made with 1939, since statutory minimum rates were not introduced until June, 1944. At that date, however, the urban minimum wage, including housing allowance, would have bought 280 lb. of posho per month: in Mombasa and Nairobi today the minimum wage would buy 278 lb. and 262 lb. respectively.
§ Mr. HaleIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the price of posho has gone up seven times in the last 10 years and that it is now 50s. as against 7s. 9d. and, therefore, that these wages are utterly inadequate? Further, is the Secretary of State aware that agreements are still being signed by his officers for rates of pay as low as 12s. a month?
§ Mr. LytteltonI do not think that the hon. Member's information is correct. The Carpenter Commission went into the question of the adequacy of existing wages agreements in Kenya very fully. Its proposal that the statutory minimum rate should be raised has been implemented. There are a number of other recommendations which the Kenya Government still have under review.
§ Following is the information: