Ministry of Labour PS Shadrack Mwadime speaking to youths at the JKIA
The Ministry of Labour and Skills Development has put
measures to cushion Kenyans working abroad from abuse.
Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime has said the government
has inked bilateral labor agreements that seek to safeguard Kenyan employees
from exploitation in foreign countries.
The PS, who spoke at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport while
flagging off 15 Kenyans heading to Oman for employment opportunities, said that the
government is keen to ensure Kenyans working abroad are guaranteed a conducive
job environment.
The agreements were informed by some complaints from Kenyans working abroad, especially in the Middle East, who decried mistreatment by their employers.
“These pacts are human rights based in line with the
International Labour Organization's (ILO) model and will save Kenyan workers from
mistreatment while working in other countries,” he said.
Some of the countries that the state has engaged in bilateral
labour agreements include the United Arab Emirates, Austria, Qatar, Germany, Canada, and the United States.
He said the government is further dispatching labour attaches to every nation to ensure the rights of Kenyans are safeguarded.
“In case anybody finds themselves in a wanting situation, they can easily reach out to a government officer who will be able to attend to their,” Mr. Mwadime clarified.
The PS said the government has additionally issued firm
instructions to the country’s foreign embassies, directing them to get in touch
with Kenyan employees based in their respective nations.
He said the government’s decision to seek employment
opportunities for young Kenyans in foreign countries is a strategy to empower
their work and skills.
“The policy we are pushing for currently is a migration
circular. As they go to these countries, they will be exposed to advanced technology
in comparison to Kenya,” he said.
He further announced that the government has partnered with
financial institutions to support needy Kenyans destined to work in foreign
countries.
“Kenya Commercial Bank has come in strongly to assist us in
this programme and are giving out loans to the tune of Sh300,000 to those heading
to the Gulf region and Sh600,000 to those migrating to Europe," he said.
“We have pushed for both private and government financial institutions like Youth Enterprise Fund to charge a one-digit interest on the loans because we have to consider the fact that most of these young people have not been employed before,” he emphasized.
He said the government has linked over 200,000
youths with jobs in foreign markets in the last one and a half years with the
aim of alleviating unemployment, which currently stands at 5 million, according to
the latest Kenya National Bureau of Statistics report.
According to statistics from the Central Bank of Kenya,
Kenyans working abroad remitted USD4.9 billion (approximately Sh640 billion) in
2024, an 18 percent increase from the USD4.19 billion remitted in 2023, playing a vital role in supporting families and
fostering economic development.
“Currently, about four million Kenyans are working in different countries. As more bilateral agreements are signed, we expect the numbers to rise exponentially. Kenyan youth are known for their discipline, fluency in English, and strong work ethic, making them highly sought after in the global labor market.”
He explained that many developed nations were experiencing a
shortage of young workers due to aging populations, which has created vast
employment opportunities in sectors such as healthcare, security, construction,
and transport, among others.
The PS also officiated a recruitment exercise at Taita
Taveta National Polytechnic, where agencies from the United Arab Emirates and
local agencies pitched camp to facilitate job placements.
The recruitment targeted motorcycle riders to work as delivery personnel, with additional recruitment drives planned for security guards.
