On building sites, farms, factories and event crews, casual workers are often paid daily or weekly in cash. Each payment must be backed by a record of who worked, on which days, at what rate, and proof that each worker received the money. That record is the muster roll, and the payment voucher wraps it in the approvals the accounts office needs. This landscape template combines both on one page.
A Brick Wall Header
The top of the page is a band of red and terracotta bricks laid in a running bond, a motif that says “building site” at a glance. A white label on the bricks holds the title, “Daily Wages Payment Voucher”, in Barlow Condensed, with “Labour muster roll & payment · Greenfield Builders” underneath. The logo sits on a white plate on the right. A thin brick-coloured band closes the bottom of the page.
Voucher Details
A five-column strip records the voucher number (DW-0912), site and project (Block C, Riverside Homes), the week (Monday 9 to Saturday 14 November 2026), the supervisor and the payment mode, cash at site.
The Muster Roll
The main table lists each worker with their trade, attendance for each day from Monday to Saturday, days worked, daily rate, amount earned and a final column for a signature or thumb print. P marks a day present and A a day absent. Here are a few of the ten sample rows:
| Worker | Trade | Days | Rate (KSh) | Amount (KSh) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Otieno | Mason | 6 | 1,200.00 | 7,200.00 |
| James Kamau | Carpenter | 5 | 1,100.00 | 5,500.00 |
| John Mutua | Helper | 4 | 800.00 | 3,200.00 |
| Sam Kiprop | Steel fixer | 6 | 1,000.00 | 6,000.00 |
| Brian Kibet | Watchman | 7 | 700.00 | 4,900.00 |
The watchman is paid for seven days because the site is guarded on Sunday too, which a note under the table explains. Two blank rows are ready for extra workers.
The Signature or Thumb Column
The last column is the most important control on the page. Each worker signs, or presses a thumb print if they cannot write, when they receive their wages. Without it, the voucher only shows what should have been paid, not what was actually received. Supervisors should pay workers one by one and collect each mark at the moment of payment.
Totals, Advances and Net Pay
A totals table shows total wages of KSh 52,400.00, less advances of KSh 1,500.00 already paid during the week, and the net paid of KSh 50,900.00. The amount in words, “Kenya Shillings Fifty Thousand Nine Hundred only”, sits on the left with a legend explaining P and A.
Three Approvals
Signature lines for the site supervisor, the cashier who paid out the money and the project manager close the voucher. In cash-heavy operations, having the person who counts the attendance separate from the person who handles the cash is a basic protection against “ghost workers”.
Running a Weekly Pay Day
- Mark attendance daily, not from memory at the end of the week.
- On pay day, total days and amounts and deduct advances.
- Have the voucher checked and the cash drawn against it.
- Pay each worker in person, collecting their signature or thumb print.
- Return the signed voucher and any unpaid cash to the office the same day.
Paying by Mobile Money
Many employers now pay casual workers by mobile money instead of cash. The muster roll works the same way: rename the last column “Phone / transaction ID” and record the confirmation code for each payment. The approval process does not change.
Labour Laws and Minimum Wages
Daily rates must meet the minimum wage for the trade and region, and some countries require statutory deductions or contributions even for casual workers. Check local rules and add columns for deductions if needed. The sample amounts are illustrative only.
Editing for Your Site
Open Edit Table Data to type worker names, trades, attendance and rates. Add Row extends the roll for bigger crews; for very large crews, use one voucher per gang or trade. Change “KSh” to your currency in the table headers and totals.
Printing the Muster Roll
The page is US Letter landscape, 11 x 8.5 inches, so the attendance columns have room. Print it on a clipboard-friendly card if it will be used outdoors, and keep the signed original with the cash book.
Preventing Ghost Workers
A ghost worker is a name on a payroll that does not belong to a real person working on site, and it is one of the oldest frauds in casual labour. The muster roll fights it in three ways: attendance marked daily by a supervisor, a project manager who checks headcount against the work done, and a personal signature or thumb print for every payment. Occasional surprise head counts on site, compared against the roll, add a further check.
Advances During the Week
Casual workers often ask for an advance mid-week for transport or food. Record each advance with the worker’s signature when it is paid, and deduct it on pay day, as the sample does with KSh 1,500. Showing the deduction on the voucher means there is no confusion when the worker counts their wages.
Keeping Workers’ Details Safe
Muster rolls contain names, pay and sometimes ID or phone numbers. Store signed vouchers securely in the site office and the accounts file, not loose in a vehicle, and limit who can see them. Workers have a right to expect their details are handled carefully.
Wages Voucher FAQ
Can I add Sunday to the attendance?
Yes. Add a column in the table settings and narrow the trade column slightly.
Is the brick header editable?
Yes. It is a group of rectangles; recolour or delete it.
What size is it?
US Letter landscape, 11 x 8.5 inches.
Can I change the currency?
Yes. Replace KSh in the table header, totals and amount in words with your currency.
Can it record half days?
Yes. Type H for a half day in the attendance cell and count it as 0.5 in the Days column.
Who should keep the signed roll?
The accounts office keeps the original; the site keeps a photocopy for reference.
