This archive report was first published on 17 October 2019.
Published on October 17, 2019, the Institute of Human Resource Management (IHRM) has expressed concern over increased job losses in the country, warning that this might lead to more crime and broken families.
IHRM Executive Director Dorcas Wainaina noted that several firms were either winding up or downsizing, rendering thousands of workers jobless. She appealed to companies to try everything possible to retain staff, saying, “Sending workers home is not the solution, it will end up creating a bigger problem.”
The Institute attributed the job losses to changing economic times and mechanisation, warning that more workers could lose their jobs if their companies do not change with the times. IHRM Executive Director Dorcas Wainaina said, “The workplace is changing and companies should retrain their workers.”
The institute supported the Government's plan to employ staff on short contracts, saying this would increase productivity. Wainaina said, “Majority of developed nations are taking that route, giving workers a chance to work for a period of time on condition that they deliver.”
She also emphasized the need for the Ministry of Education to review its curriculum in line with emerging courses that were more advanced and automated. Wainaina said, “We should be looking at changing our curriculum to address future employment opportunities.”
Speaking during the three-day event, Wycliffe Osoro, a board member at IHRM, attributed rising job losses to the tough economic times most countries have been going through. He was optimistic that this would change if Kenya improved the business environment.
