NAIROBI, Kenya — Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU-K) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has opposed an alleged government plan to replace aviation workers with National Youth Service (NYS) graduates, warning that such a move would undermine labour rights and threaten job security in the sector.
In a statement issued on Friday, Atwoli expressed COTU’s full support for the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU), which has raised concerns over reports that NYS graduates could be deployed to perform security and screening duties at Kenya’s airports ahead of a planned aviation workers’ strike.
According to Atwoli, replacing employees hired on permanent and pensionable terms with lower-cost labour would violate labour standards and weaken employment protections.
“Workers performing permanent and continuous functions should be employed on permanent terms and conditions of service. It is immoral and illegal for a government institution to outsource or substitute permanent employment with low-cost labour arrangements that weaken labour standards and threaten existing jobs,” Atwoli said.
He called on the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) to engage the Kenya Aviation Workers Union through meaningful social dialogue before implementing any staffing changes.
While clarifying that he was not opposed to the recruitment of NYS graduates, Atwoli questioned the rationale for deploying them to roles already occupied by trained aviation workers.
He maintained that if NYS personnel are to be employed, they should receive fair remuneration, secure terms of employment and full protection under Kenya’s labour laws.
“We call upon all public employers to refrain from replacing permanent workers with insecure forms of labour solely as a cost-cutting measure,” he said.
Atwoli added that COTU would continue supporting KAWU and aviation workers in defending decent work, employment security and the integrity of public service employment.
The remarks come days after KAWU issued a seven-day strike notice, accusing four aviation sector employers of persistently violating collective bargaining agreements signed with their employees.
KAWU Secretary-General Moses Ndiema said the planned industrial action would involve workers from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, Kenya Airways, Kenya Airports Authority and Jambojet.
According to the union, failure by the employers to address the grievances could disrupt operations across the country’s aviation sector.
The dispute has renewed debate over labour relations in public institutions, with trade unions urging employers to prioritise dialogue and honour existing employment agreements before introducing staffing changes that could affect workers’ rights.