[kictanet] Day 8 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues

Thu Jun 11 10:08:55 EAT 2009

folks,

indeed she 'deliberately' repeated day 7 issues.  The catch is that we have 2days to discuss the Youth and Gender issue...

meanwhile, i noted in yesterdays Daily Nation, pag 15 - its like Safaricom has finally published  tenders to outsource part of the Customer Services? Kazi kwa vijana.

walu.

--- On Thu, 6/11/09, Wainaina Mungai <wainaina at madeinkenya.org> wrote:

> From: Wainaina Mungai <wainaina at madeinkenya.org>
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 8 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues
> To: jwalu at yahoo.com
> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Date: Thursday, June 11, 2009, 1:49 AM
> Nyaki,
> 
> I got that very same feeling that day 8 intro is a repeat
> of day 7's intro...
> 
> might be a time zone issue ;-)
> 
> Wainaina
> 
> On 6/11/09, Bill Kagai <billkagai at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > This looks like repetition of Day7 unless am missing
> > something.....or..... confused.....
> >
> > On Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 12:24 AM, Catherine
> Adeya<elizaslider at yahoo.com>
> > wrote:
> >>
> >> - Day 8 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender
> Issues Continued -
> >>
> >> It is a few minutes past midnight now so let me
> introduce Day 8 of the
> >> discussions.
> >>
> >> Today we continue with the theme of Youth and
> Gender issues. The following
> >> is part of the summary I sent yesterday (the
> detailed attachment I sent
> >> yesterday is re-attached).
> >>
> >> It is useful to begin by noting that the
> researchers found that the
> >> unemployment rate (2008 est) was 40% in Kenya,
> 21.7% in S. Africa, 7.6% in
> >> Mauritius and 6.8% in India. The researchers also
> found that the minimum
> >> qualification for professional staff was a
> Bachelor’s degree in all four
> >> countries.  However, the minimum qualification
> for operators/agents
> >> varied.
> >> In Kenya it was a certificate, diploma or degree
> depending on operation;
> >> in
> >> S. Africa it was Grade 12; Mauritius school
> certificate or below and in
> >> India it was a High school certificate.
> >>
> >> The common work related challenges include project
> management (especially
> >> meeting deadlines) and long hours. Some employees
> in Kenya complained
> >> about
> >> challenges with transportation.  The detailed
> summary findings will be
> >> availed.
> >>
> >> Generally there were more women in call centres
> than male but more males
> >> in
> >> the professional cadre.  The youth are mostly
> found in the agent/operator
> >> jobs. The following are some country specific
> issues:
> >>
> >> In, India there is the Equal Remuneration Act
> ensures that there is equal
> >> remuneration to men and women for same jobs. Under
> this law, no
> >> discrimination is permissible in recruitment and
> service conditions except
> >> where employment of women is prohibited or
> restricted by the law. NASSCOM
> >> has launched the Women in Leadership-IT Initiative
> to enhance
> >> participation
> >> of women in the workforce and ensure there are
> more women leaders in the
> >> IT-BPO industry.
> >> In South Africa, there are 40% more females than
> males below 25 years
> >> working in the BPO sector. However, there are 7%
> more males than females
> >> above 25 years old.  There is no gender or age
> based discrimination in the
> >> work place. There exists no law or policy that
> prefers youth from other
> >> groups of people in employment.
> >> In Mauritius, there is no 24 hour work culture. In
> addition, the Labor Act
> >> prohibits employment of female employees in
> industrial undertakings
> >> between
> >> 10 p.m. and 5 a.m; while youth are not allowed to
> work between between 6
> >> p.m. and 6 a.m. Interestingly, there is clause
> that no person shall,
> >> except
> >> with the Permanent Secretary's written consent,
> transport a female worker
> >> or
> >> cause a female worker to be transported in a goods
> vehicle; any other
> >> vehicle, unless the vehicle is provided with an
> easy means of entering and
> >> alighting which does not involve climbing.
> >>
> >> 4.   In Kenya we have the Employment Act which
> many of you know.
> >>
> >> This leads us to the following discussion
> questions:
> >>
> >> Discussion Q9: Are the Kenyan laws adequate to
> protect the youth and women
> >> from exploitation by BPO&O employers?
> >>
> >> Discussion Q. 10: The BPO sector is not seen as a
> long term source of
> >> employment for most employees. Most believe it is
> a stepping stone to
> >> other
> >> lucrative opportunities. What needs to be done to
> ensure the youth and
> >> women
> >> view the industry as attractive, especially in
> terms of quality of
> >> employment and career progression?
> >>
> >> Discussion Q11: Attrition and poaching are
> prevalent in most countries
> >> studied. What mechanisms should employers adopt to
> attract and retain
> >> their
> >> staff?
> >>
> >> Let the discussions continue as we move to another
> topic tomorrow.
> >>
> >> Thanks
> >>
> >> Nyaki
> >>
> >>
> >>
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> >>
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Bildad Kagai
> > MD - MediaCorp Limited
> > Nairobi Stock Exchange Authorised Information Vendor
> > Suite B2, Tetu Court, State House Avenue
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