A number of recruitment agencies in the country are operating as subsidiaries of international companies, a parliamentary committee was on Thursday told.
National Employment Authority (NEA) told the Committee on Diaspora Affairs that this had made it difficult for the government to hold them responsible for their actions.
"Chair, the problem that we are facing is that many of the companies here are acting on behalf of foreigners," the acting director in charge of Labor migration at the authority Joseph Njue said.
Njue said this has also impacted negatively on the registration process.
He, however, explained that they have managed to weed out rogue agencies since the vetting process was launched.
He said out of over 1,000 companies that were previously operating, they are currently remaining with at least 468 which have been cleared to operate.
Njue further disclosed that out of the 98 that were to be vetted last week, only 52 appeared.
He stated that those who opted out feared appearing for the physical vetting.
."...and, you ask yourself where they are and what they fear," he posed.
The process, he noted, will be concluded in the next three weeks.
The Kenya Association of Private Employment Agencies (KAPEA) alongside the Association of Skilled Migrant Agencies of Kenya (ASMAK) also gave their presentations.
KAPEA is an association of private agencies that recruit and place individuals in their dream jobs locally and internationally.
The Committee chaired by Taita Taveta woman representative Lydia Haika met to discuss the growing concerns surrounding migrant worker issues and the unethical conduct of private recruitment agencies in the recruitment of labour migrants and the placement of students abroad.
Principal Secretary Geoffrey Kaituko also appeared.
