The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) has opposed an alleged Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) plan to replace permanent aviation workers with National Youth Service (NYS) graduates.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

In a statement on Friday, July 24, COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli warned that the move could undermine labour standards and threaten the job security of hundreds of aviation workers.

According to Atwoli, the union stands in full solidarity with the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU), which has opposed what it describes as the replacement of credible employees with dubious labour arrangements.

Atwoli claimed that KCAA intends to deploy NYS personnel to carry out security and screening functions across all airports while existing permanent positions remain vacant or are being replaced.

📌 What You Need to Know

The labour union clarified that it is not opposed to NYS graduates' employment, noting that it supports efforts to integrate young people into the labour market.

However, it insisted that any recruitment should be done through permanent and pensionable positions, in line with established public service recruitment procedures.

"COTU wishes to make it clear that we are not opposed to the employment of youths who have completed the NYS programme. On the contrary, we strongly support their integration into the labour market," the union said.

The labour union argued that where there is a genuine need for additional personnel, KCAA should recruit NYS graduates into permanent positions instead of engaging them under temporary arrangements.

COTU further stated that workers carrying out permanent functions should be employed on permanent terms and conditions of service, describing the outsourcing of such roles as both immoral and illegal.

"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," COTU added.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke