'New Proposed Law' Interns In Government agencies to be paid salaries and allowed leave days

‘New Proposed Law’ Interns In Government agencies to be paid salaries and allowed leave days

Post by : Hillary Musyoki

Samburu MP Naisula Lesuuda is seeking to have interns working in goverment agencies be offered monthly stipend and insurance to cover for personal accidents.

The Public Service Internship Bill 2022, The MP holds that interns contribute to the manpower of the organisation by offering their skills.

The bill by lesuuda , which is due first reading , seeks to regulate intership programmes for both college and university students within the public service.

“An intern engaged in the public service shall be eligble for payment of such monthly stipend as the CS shall prescribe in regulations,”the Bill reads.

“The personal accident insurance cover shall be valid for the duration of the intership period,” The proposed law read.

The MP , in her bill suggests to have interns paid subsistence allowance as may be determined by Labour CS from time to time.

Photo// Samburu MP’s New law. Photo Courtesy

The New Bill outlines that an internship programme should not exceed 12 months, and that the lot will not be eligble for any pension.

The proposed law also sets that, an intersip may be terminated on grounds of a 24 hour absence without permission or a reasonble cause.

Interships will be terminated if, their is disoderly conduct, unsatisfactory perfomance, or failure to obey any lawful instructions .

New Law

The proposed law applies to unemployment graduates who require experience to improve their chances of employment, graduates seeking professional registration and technical and interships.

In the proposed law, heads of public service institutions will be required to advertise the opportunities in the entities websites, and in at least two newspapers of nationwide circulation.

“The advertisemnt shall contain all relevant information pertaining to the areas of speciazition required, total number of interns required and duration of the intersip,” reads the bill.

In addition to that, lesuuda wants all state agencies compelled to set up intership management comittees ,plan and budget for intership programmes , conduct interns recruitment on basis of merit and also provide necessary facilities to learners.

State agencies would also be required to pay the prescribed stipends to interns, appoint for them supervisors and mentors , and also issue certificates to those who complete programmes.