MP seeks monthly stipend, insurance for State interns

Interns attached to government institutions will be offered monthly stipends and insurance cover for personal accident if a bill in Parliament is passed.

The attachment period will be extended from three to between six and 12 months in proposals made in the Public Service Internship Bill sponsored by Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda.

Appearing before a parliamentary committee yesterday, Public Service Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa defended the need to have the attachment period extended.

Jumwa said interns need to acquire necessary skills and experience to enhance employability.

“Three months may not be adequate for acquisition of relevant experience and skills and inculcation of public service values and ethos,” Jumwa told the National Assembly’s departmental Committee on Labour.

The principal objective of the bill is to establish a legal framework for the regulation of internship programmes within public service.

It seeks to ensure provision of monthly stipend, insurance and other entitlements to persons engaged in internships in the public service for the duration of the programme.

“The provision of stipend to interns is necessary as interns contribute to the manpower of the organisation by offering their professional skills as apprentices,” the bill says.

Pension

In addition to the monthly stipend and insurance, interns will be entitled to sick leave as may be applicable, maternity or paternity leave and subsistence allowance as may be determined by the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service.

“Despite the provision of monthly stipend, the intern shall not be eligible to receive pension or gratuity,” the Bill notes.

The Bill further seeks to regulate internship programmes for college and university graduates within the public service.

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

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

In addition to the stipends, Lesuuda wants interns engaged in the public service be entitled to sick leave as well as maternity or paternity leave for the period of their attachment.

The Samburu West MP, in her bill, is further pushing to have interns paid subsistence allowance as may be determined by the Labour CS from time to time.

The bill outlines that an internship period will not exceed 12 months, and that the lot will not be eligible for any pension or gratuity.

The proposed law also provides that an internship may be terminated on grounds of a 24-hour absence without permission or any reasonable cause.

Internships will also be terminated on grounds of gross or disorderly conduct, unsatisfactory performance, failure to obey any lawful instructions or commission of a criminal offence.

It also gives room for interns to terminate their engagements with the referenced institution through a 30-day notice in writing to the person in charge.

The proposed law will apply to unemployed graduates who require hands-on experience to improve their chances of employment, graduates seeking professional registration and technical and internship In the new rules, heads of public service institutions will be required to advertise the opportunities in the entity’s website and in at least two newspapers of nationwide circulation.

Pension

“The advertisement shall contain all relevant information pertaining to the areas of specialisation required, total number of interns required and duration of the internship,” reads the bill.

Lesuuda also wants all State agencies compelled to set up internship management committees, plan and budget for internship programmes, conduct interns recruitment on basis of merit and provide necessary facilities for the learners.

“Article 55 of the Constitution provides that the State shall take measures, including affirmative action, to ensure the youth have access to relevant education, training and employment,” the bill states.

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 the programmes.

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