Mrs. Whiteasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the minimum monthly wage, with the estimated value of emoluments in kind, paid to workers in the public service in Kenya; and how many workers in the public service and in private industry, respectively, received cash wages of 40s. a month or less at the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. Lytteltonpursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 12th November, 1952; Vol. 507, c. 53–4]. supplied the following information:
The statutory minimum monthly wage in urban districts varies thus:
wage for Government employees is 23 shs. 25 cts. plus housing, but apart from casual labour (who are engaged at current market rates) only some 750 or 26,700 permanent African Government staff receive cash wages of 40s. or less per month.
273WEmoluments in kind are awarded only in the Northern Province, where all African employees receive rations, either free (worth Shs. 17/50 per month) or against repayment of Shs. 10/50 (worth Shs. 30/0 to 40/0 per month).
Nearly all private industry (apart from agricultural industry) is located in urban districts where the statutory rates tabulated above apply. Outside these areas, wages tend to follow these rates. Statistics will not, however, be available until the results of the 1952 labour census are known.