- Kase insisted that a cleaned up data of genuine and licensed bureaus is found on NEA's website.
- The theme of the global event this year is being ''safe and decent work for domestic workers.''
Image: STANLEY NJENGA
The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has said that its officers are working day and night to ensure safety and protection of Kenyan domestic workers abroad.
Deputy Labour Commissioner Bonaya Kase said that through the National Employment Authority (NEA), rogue employment agencies have been deregistered.
Kase insisted that a cleaned up data of genuine and licensed bureaus is found on NEA's website.
He spoke at the pride inn Azure hotel in Westlands, Nairobi, on Friday during the International Domestic Workers Day, which is celebrated every June 16.
“Any worker willing to work out of the country can only do so through the registered agencies,” Kase said.
The theme of the global event this year is being ''safe and decent work for domestic workers.''
Kase said the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, through the State Department for Labour and Skills Development, which is the ministry incharge , is committed to ratification of the ILO Convention 189 Domestic Workers’ Convention .
Kase said that safety of workers is a basic human right and it is something that all workers, including domestic workers deserve.
“Unfortunately, many domestic workers around the world are not provided with safe and decent working conditions. Many suffer from exploitation, discrimination, abuse and poor working conditions due to their vulnerable status. This is something that we all must work to change,” Kase said.
According to the ILO research statistics, 75.6 million people are employed as domestic workers globally, and Kenya accounting for over 2 million.
“it is crucial to address this issue head on,” Kase said.
He added that ILO has been instrumental in pushing for legal protection that recognizes domestic work as formal employment with defined labour rights.
Gender and Affirmative Action Principal Secretary, Veronica Nduva, speaking while representing Labour and Skills Development, Principal Secretary, Geoffrey Kaituko, said that the ILO convention 189 is an important step towards achieving decent working and living conditions.
"Kenya, as a Member of the International Labour Organization (ILO), is obligated to fulfill all the requirements of not only Convention No. 189 on Domestic Workers Convention and the process for ratifying this Convention is ongoing," Nduva said.
She, however, said that the ministry is committed to ensure and protect the rights of all workers including domestic workers by providing for minimum wage standards.