Interns Will Soon Work Without Salaries- SRC. Teachers and civil servants in Kenya are employed by the government. At the end of every month, they are paid salaries. However, before they get employed, they are recruited as interns.
In Kenya, internship period lasts for not more than 2 years. During this period, those under internship are paid a stipend. It is normally slightly lower than the salary they are supposed to be paid.
The purpose of internship is to equip the Interns with skills and expertise required in the job market.
According to the head of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), there is improper pressure to provide the medical intern(s) a higher salary.
Speaking during TV interview on Wednesday Mengich said that the currently proposed Ksh. 70,000 stipend which is paid to medical interns is more than what is given to other government interns working in both government and private sectors.
Interns Will Soon Work Without Salaries- SRC
SRC Boss now insists that the government cannot afford to pay intern salaries. Instead, the country needs to recruit more doctors since the country has not reached the required ratio against the current population.
Mengich noted that with all interns in government currently, top paid receives sh 25,000 adding that on the private sector highest is paid sh 35,000 per month.
The CEO of SRC went on to say that intern doctors should not mistake what they receive for payment; rather, it is merely a facilitator.
Mengich made the point that interns only receive stipends designed to make it easier for them to work.
The CEO also said that instead of talking about raising wages, the nation should concentrate elsewhere. Mostly on finding ways to attract additional healthcare professionals.
She however noted that those interns who fail to take up the internship opportunity are at risk. They risk getting future employment. The SRC boss noted that the stipend should just be a motivating factor. Additionally, she said in future, interns may be working for very little pay.