Payroll Updates for Version 5.0

·         Fixed bug in the initialisation of gender and marital status combo boxes in the Personnel form. ·          Fixed rounding error in the computation of overtime, hourly pay and daily pay.

·         Fixed bug in employer’s mandatory NSSF contribution. For employees for whom NSSF was switched off the employer’s NSSF was not computed. Instead the payroll defaulted to the amount for the preceding record, if any.

·         Updated the SFI file format to cater for longer account numbers (up to 20 digits). This is more than enough for the longest Co-op Bank account numbers. ·         Implemented the payroll variance report which shows the difference between all payments and deductions for each employee in any two payrolls. It is laid out in the same way as the muster roll.

·         Added Pay Groups to full menu of Register Standard. This option had been omitted by mistake.

·         Fixed bug in the computation of taxable pay when employer pension is taxable on employee.

·         Fixed bug in absence & leave form. Leave sold was being saved as leave forfeited and vice versa. ·         Made remaining reports exportable to text. ·         Added bank code column to bank transfer report.

·         Many more reports for each pay period can be filtered by pay group, including muster roll, control account and listings of earnings and non-statutory deductions. ·         Job title shown in muster roll. ·         Benefits can be shown in the muster roll report. This is optional. ·         Use can choose whether benefits appear in employee pay sheets. ·         Basic pay report expanded to show pay rate and time worked. ·         Time and attendance data can be imported into the payroll transactions file. (Premier edition only)

Version 5.0 Aren Register Premier Edition

New features have now been added to our payroll software in  version 5.0,Kindly contact u if you are interested in purchasing the software or if currently using it for an upgrade.

•         Many more reports for each pay period can be filtered by pay group, including muster roll, control account and listings of earnings and non-statutory deductions.
•        Job title shown in muster roll.
•       Benefits can be shown in the muster roll report. This is optional.
•        Use can choose whether benefits appear in employee pay sheets.
•       Basic pay report expanded to show pay rate and time worked.

Time and attendance data can be imported into the payroll transactions file. (Premier edition only)

Kenya's minimum wage increases for the second year running

The Kenyan Labour Minister has announced a 12.5% increase in the basic minimum wage for all workers in the country.

This increase is in addition to last year's 10% increase, and comes as the Minister revealed plans to develop a wage and income policy which will provide a framework for all future increases, and will also be linked to the bill of rights in the new constitution.
It is a far cry from the 60-100% increase demanded by the Central Organisation of Trade Unions, who also called for a general increase of 10% to everyone's wages, not just the minimum wage.  The minimum wage was increased from Sh7334 to Sh8250.75.

Payroll Outsourcing

As Payroll experts, we know the drill, cut your COSTS, and get your payroll done accurately and on time. We deliver and then you pay us by cheque when you are HAPPY! – Kwisha!Tosha No Maneno.

Outsourcing Services For P9 P10 P10A

We offer expert P9, P10 and P10A Outsourcing services for companies and individuals. Good for busy self employed individuals as well as small organizations. Save time,money and headaches. GET COMPLIANT TODAY.

Payroll Training

Learn from the experts. We provide training on Payroll for BEGINNERS, as well as REFRESHER training to update payroll management skills.

PATERNITY LEAVE

Some companies have decided to create a paid paternity leave benefit for their employees, seeing it as a good investment in the workforce. “It helps with retention and to build loyalty to the firm,” says Maryella Gockel, flexibility strategy leader at accounting and advisory firm Ernst & Young.

Ernst recently boosted its paid paternity leave from two weeks to six. “Some men take two weeks when the baby is born, then another four weeks when mom goes back to work,” says Gockel.

Another Big Four firm, KPMG, offers two weeks of paid leave to fathers of new children. “We’ve had an incredible take-up on this benefit,” says Barbara Wankoff, national director of workplace solutions. “Eighty-five percent of eligible dads take paternity leave; the rate was 30 percent in the program’s first year,” which was 2002.

Paid Leave Doesn’t Always Equal a Free Lunch

So how does the work get done when fathers go on leave? When employees are exempt from overtime pay, companies are less likely to hire temporary replacements. “We had four dads in the same office all expecting, and they covered for each other,” Wankoff says.

And many white-collar workers can’t or don’t entirely let go of their professional responsibilities when they’re home rocking the baby to sleep and changing diapers. Whether and how much working fathers continue to labor while on leave “varies per person and according to circumstances,” says Gockel. “If you’re in the middle of a big (business) deal, the transition to leave may take longer.”

Why are Salaries treated like state secrets?

It’s a golden rule in most Kenyan businesses that salaries must be kept secret. Except for a few heretics it is almost universally accepted that mayhem would ensue in the workplace if people knew what their co-workers, their managers or – gasp – the CEO was making.

Making salaries open inside a company instead seems like a wild idea sure, but it makes a lot of sense and
brings advantages for both the workplace and for its people. Read on to see why.

The case against secret salaries

There are three major reasons why secret salaries are silly:

• It frustrates employees because any unfairness (real or perceived) can’t be addressed directly.
• They’re not secret anyway. People talk, you know.
• It perpetuates unfair salaries which is bad for people and for the organization

Let’s look at each of these.

If Kimani over in Accounting is making twice a month than I am and the CEO is making 22 times what I’m making, then hopefully there’s a good reason for it – one that I as an employee am entitled to know and capable of understanding. So why are salaries treated as state secrets?

The main reason may precisely be that they’re not currently fair and therefore making them open seems dangerous to many workplaces. Maybe Kimani is making more than me, not because he does a better job, but because he drives a harder bargain when it comes time to negotiate salaries. Or sucks up to the boss. Or has some pictures from the last christmas office party showing the Director of Finance and an intern in… never mind. That doesn’t seem fair, does it? We can all agree, I think, that it makes much more sense to determine salaries based on people’s value to the company.

I have worked at two different companies where salaries were secret and guess what: They weren’t. Most people knew what most others were getting. In one company I consulted for, the IT department had even found the Excel spreadsheets HR kept the salaries in. They knew what everyone was getting.

And here’s the problem: If Kimani’s salary is (unfairly) higher than mine, and secret, I can’t complain to my manager about it because I can’t admit that I know about it. When a company sets up a situation where people can see the unfairness but can’t address it directly, or even discuss it openly, they’re rigging the system for maximum frustration.

Companies must attempt to pay their people as fairly as possible. You might think a company should try to pay people as little as possible, but companies who subscribe to that philosophy must be prepared to steadily lose all their good employees to competitors willing to pay people what they’re worth. A company must attempt to pay each employee a fair salary, ie. one that matches the employee’s skills, the market average and other employees inside the company. In other words, the company itself has a vested interest in keeping salaries fair, and keeping salaries secret makes that nearly impossible.

The case for open salaries

I believe on a very fundamental level that openness is better than secrecy, in life and in business. I’m not naïve enough to share all information all the time, but my chosen approach is “Let’s make everything open by default and only make those things secret that absolutely need to be”.

KRA Returns And Your Salary

KRA Returns And Your Salary.

Kenya Revenue Authority issues guideline on this years filing tax returns.

You don't need to file your tax returns if your only source of income is your salary and if you are certain that your employer has been remitting the correct taxes to the Revenue authority.

KRA however says those earning an income other than from employment, holding more than one job, or seeking refund of taxes must file their returns.

Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta had recommended that employers file tax returns on behalf of their workers to avoid duplication.

Fringe Benefit Tax

Aren Payroll automatically calculates the Fringe Benefit Tax in cases of loans given to employees which are below the market interest rate. The user is required to post the market interest rate, which is published in the press every quarter by the Kenya Revenue Authority, and the software uses this rate to calculate the amount of tax owed. The user is thus presented with a report showing the opening balance of the loan, the fringe benefit value and the eventual tax.

New Release of Aren Payroll

Aren Software Ltd has just released the new version of the payroll program. The new version, 5.0, has additional features such as:
1. Payslip Messages: this feature allows the user to put up a message for a particular group of employees e.g. Happy New Year, Merry Christmas etc.
2. Employee Photos: employees can now have their photos uploaded onto the payroll file and this makes it easier for the user to identify the employees easily.
3. Next of Kin/Dependants: the employer can now have a record of the employees' next of kin and dependants details which are most useful in cases of emergency.

These are just a few of the wonderful features included in the new program. We are currently gearing up to upgrade our long-term clients to the new program as well as installing it for our new clients.

Deadline for Submission of Annual Returns

The deadline for the filing of annual returns (Forms P10, P10A, P9A, P10B, P11) has been extended to 31 March 2011. This was announced in the press (Standard newspaper 24/2/2011) and employers are to file their returns at the station where their PIN base is domiciled. Do make sure that you are on time!

Have you submitted your Annual Returns

Have you filed your Annual Returns? If you haven't then you better start moving. As the deadline for the annual returns draws nearer you may be telling yourself that you will do it on the last day. Monday the 28th is the last day for submitting the P10 otherwise known as the Employer's certificate. This should be submitted together with the P10A (the PAYE supporting list) as well as the P9As (The Income Tax Deduction card) for each of the employees. Remember that these returns are all for the year 2010. You will also need to make copies of all the P11 (Credit Slips) for each month of the Year 2010 and attach these to the P10. All these must be submitted before 28th February 2011. Good luck and do not procrastinate.

Aren Payroll Clients

Aren Software Limited is proud of its clients who use the Aren Payroll Standard and Premier editions as well as the Aren Register Standard and Premier editions. Our clients comprise of Small and Medium size enterprises as well as some large organizations. They range from the agricultural sector to the industries and vary in labour proportions. Here's a glimpse of a sample of our clients:

 1. Accounting & Auditing Firms

• Acacia Business Services
• BC Patel & Company
• Beracah Company Limited
• D.K Waweru & Associates
• HLB Ashvir Consulting Ltd
• Joy V. Bhatt & Company
• Njeru Nyaga & Company

2. Advocates

• Kipkenda Lilan & Company
• Njoroge Regeru & Co Advocates

3. Agricultural Organizations

• Chemusian Farm Ltd
• Crop Africa Ltd
• Magana Flowers (K) Ltd
• Segera Ranch Ltd

4. Airlines & Freight Companies

• Aero Kenya Ltd
• Ario Kenya Ltd
• East African Safari Air Express Ltd
• Multilines International (K) Ltd
• Rapat Freight Kenya Ltd
• Saudi Arabian Airlines

5. Associations

• Mathare Youth Sports Association
• The League of Kenya Women Voters

6. Broadcasting & Advertising Companies

• Capital Group Ltd
• German Television-ARD
• Internews Network, Kenya
• Ogilvy & MatherRadio Africa Ltd
• Regional Reach Ltd
• Royal Media Services
• Saracen Media Limited
• Transworld Radio

 7. Bus Companies & Car Park

• City Hopper Ltd
• Kenya Airport Parking Services

8. Caterers & Hotels

• Home Park Caterers & Restaurant Ltd
• Lake Bogoria Spa Resort Ltd
• Merica Hotel
• Naro Moru River Lodge
• Savannah Camps & Lodges
• Origin Safaris Ltd

9. Churches & Religious Organizations

• ACK Diocese of Embu
• African Council of Religious Leaders
• All Saints Cathedral Church-Nairobi & Kampala
• Church of Nazarene
• Comboni Missionary Sisters Health Project
• Diocese of Rumbek
• Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church
• Marist International Centre
• Nairobi Chapel
• PCEA Eastleigh Community Centre
• Redeemed Gospel Church
• Tabibu Ministries Ltd
• The Bible Society of Kenya
• United Bible Societies
• Uzima Publishing House

 10. Cleaning Services

• Chemserve Cleaning Services Ltd

11. Clothing Manufacturers

• Kenana Knitters
• Kiboko Leisure Wear
• Straightline Enterprises

 12. Co-operatives

• Finnlemm Sacco Society Ltd

13. Communication & Technology Companies & ISP’s

• Access Kenya Group Ltd
• Adwest Communications Ltd
• Alldean Satellite Networks (K) Ltd
• Express Automation
• Gina Din Corporate Communications
• Linksoft Communications Systems Ltd
• Mobile World Kenya Ltd
• Monier 2000 Ltd
• Nairobi Net
• Samchi Telecommunications Ltd
• Safari Ting Ting Ltd
• Tricom Technologies Ltd
• Wilken Telecoms

 14. Consultants

• ETC East Africa Consultants

 15. Electrical Contractors

• Electrical & General Appliances Ltd
• Electrowatts Ltd
• Mehta Electricals Ltd

16. Engineering & Construction Companies

• Bob Harries Engineering Ltd
• BS Mohindra & Co (K) Ltd
• Geomax Consulting Engineers
• Gurdev Engineering & Construction Works Ltd
• Intex Construction Ltd
• Marimo Construction Ltd
• Reime Kenya
• Runji & Partners Consulting Engineering Ltd
• Samura Engineering
• Schindler Ltd

17. Foundations

• Aga Khan Foundation
• Cordaid Foundation
• German Foundation for World Population

18. Furniture Dealers and Manufacturers

• Ramboo Colourcane Ltd

19. Government Institutions

• Brand Kenya Board
• Kenya ICT Board
• Music Copyright Society of Kenya
• Town Council of Maralal
• Water Services Trust Fund

20. Insurance Companies & Brokers

• Concord Insurance Company Ltd
• Family Insurance Brokers
• The Kenyan Alliance Insurance Company Ltd
• Trident Insurance Company Ltd

21. Interior Designers

• Flooring & Interiors Ltd
• Planning Interiors

22. International Organizations & NGOs

• Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation International
• African Population & Health Research Centre
• Aidspan
• British Institute in East Africa
• Carmelite Community
• David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
• Handicap International
• I Choose Life
• Koinonia Community
• Kolping Organization of Kenya
• Marist International
• Mully Children’s Family Home
• Salesians of Don Bosco
• Samaritan’s Purse
• World Wide fund for Nature

23. Manufacturers

• Abcon Kenya Ltd
• Doric Industries Ltd
• Interconsumer Products Ltd
• Mombasa Maize Millers
• Proctor & Allan Ltd

 24. Medical Organizations

• Acacia Medical Centre Ltd
• AIC-Cure International Children Hospital
• Crown HealthCare (K) Ltd
• Galaxy Pharmaceutical Ltd
• Globe Pharmacy Ltd
• Omaera Pharmaceuticals
• Medical Emergency Relief International
• Palmland Pharmaceuticals
• Sanlam Health Kenya Ltd
• Sphinx Pharmaceuticals Ltd

25. Micro-Finance Institutions & Banks

• Association of Microfinance Institutions in Kenya
• AKF-First Microcredit Agency
• Dubai Bank Kenya Limited
• Micro-Africa Ltd
• Oiko Credit EDU

26. Motoring Services

• Ace Auto Centre Ltd
• Axel Engineering & Manufacturing Ltd
• Hans Kenya
• Impala Downtown Ltd
• Onecell Tracking Ltd
• Repelectric (K) Ltd
• Stoic Company Ltd

27. Property Management Companies

• Kellico Limited
• Norwich Union Properties Ltd
• Regent Management Ltd
• Tysons Limited

28. Schools & Colleges

• African Nazarene University
• Aga Khan University Hospital
• All Saints Cathedral Primary School
• Baraka Agricultural College
• Buru Buru Institute of Fine Arts
• Kenya Christian Industrial Training Institute
• Kenya Methodist University
• Loreto Institute
• Makini Schools Ltd
• Tangaza College

29. Security & Fencing Companies

• Collindale Security
• Gallagher Power Fence Systems Ltd
• Instarect Ltd
• Samura Engineering Ltd

30. Stationery and Printing Companies

• AIC Kijabe Printing Press
• Creative Print House

31. Clients in Uganda, Tanzania and Sudan

• Aga Khan Foundation-Tanzania
• Atlas Copco Tanzania
• Finance Sudan Limited
• First Microfinance Agency Limited-Tanzania
• Linksoft Uganda
• Oiko Credit Uganda
• Reime Tanzania & Uganda
• Samaritan’s Purse (South Sudan)
• Skills for Southern Sudan
• The Bible Society of Tanzania & Uganda
• Kampala Access & Parking Services

Preparing your payroll with ease

Does end month feel like the worst time in your life? Probably so if you process your payroll manually. You are bound to get the PAYE wrong, miscalculate NSSF, especially when you have casual employees, search for formulas on how to work out Fringe Benefit tax and loans, send money into someone else's account (whoops). Why the hustle when you can easily acquire a payroll program that does all of the above for you. Aren Payroll simply simplifies the work for you alleviating the stress and giving you time to do other things. At a most affordable price, Aren Payroll will calculate all the figures for PAYE, NSSF, NHIF accurately, given the correct Basic and/or Gross Pay. What then are you waiting for! Give us a ring and let us sort out the mess for you. You can reach us on +254 20 6008557/8 or email us on info@aren.co.ke.

What is Aren Payroll

Aren Payroll is a user-friendly payroll program that runs on PCs with Windows XP or later. It enables you to set up a database containing pay details of the employees in your organisation and then use this data to print payroll reports.

Data entry is interactive with income tax, loan payments, pension fund balances and other calculated amounts updated and displayed as you work. Numerous reports are provided including payslips, payroll summary, payroll control account, cash and cheque lists as well as monthly and annual tax returns.