Discussion Paper No. 139 of 2012 on Effects of Minimum Wage on Gendered Employment in Kenya
View/ Open
Publication Date
2012Author
Type
KIPPRA Publicationsviews
downloads
Metadata
Show full item recordBy
Bengal, Evelyn Iminza
Abstract/ Overview
This study utilizes time series data to analyze the effects of minimum wage on females and males in formal employment in Kenya. Time series data from 1973 to 2009 is analyzed for long run and short run effects of minimum wages on males and females in formal employment. The results show that in the short run, minimum wage has a significant positive effect on female employment but the effect is significantly negative for male employment. In the long run, minimum wage has significant negative effect on both male and female employment. However, the long-run effect on female employment is not statistically significant. An increase in minimum wages has a smaller impact on female employment than male employment. Adjusting the minimum wages upwards is good in checking the gender disparities in employment in the short-run. However, the adjustments should be spread in such a way that the short-run positive effect on female employment is maintained in the long-run, while minimizing the negative effect on the male employment. Currently, the practise in Kenya is that adjustment is done every year mainly because of political agenda as opposed to policy. To minimize the long-run effects, the adjustment frequency should be reviewed to at least three years between adjustments. Nevertheless, minimum wage legislation in itself is a more general policy. A targeted policy to deal with the specific problem of the gender disparity in employment should be complemented with it in order to balance the number of males and females in formal employment in Kenya.
Publisher
The Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA)Series
DP/139/2012;Collections
- Discussion Papers [326]
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Sessional Paper No. 05 of 2005 on Gender Equality and Development
Ministry of Sports, Culture and Social Services (Ministry of Sports, Culture and Social Services, 2005)The Sessional Paper captures and re-iterates Governments commitment in revamping economic growth, raising productivity, facilitating private investment and alleviating unemployment while simultaneously addressing the ... -
National Policy for Prevention and Response to Gender Based Violence 2014
Ministry of Devolution and Planning (Ministry of Devolution and Planning, 2014)Gender based Violence is a serious global health, human rights, and development issue. It is a symptom of underlying gender inequalities and power imbalances that goes beyond geography, race, culture, class, and religion, ... -
East African Community Gender Policy 2018
East African Community Secretariat (East African Community Secretariat, 2018)Globally, respect for human rights, inclusivity and empowerment are fundamental principles of humanity. The quest for Gender Equality and Women Empowerment is critical for social, cultural and economic development ...