Kenya is reviewing Bilateral Labour Agreements with Middle East countries following concerns over welfare of Kenyan workers in the Arab world.
Labour Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore said the agreements are being reviewed to improve terms and conditions of service and enhance protection of Kenyan migrant workers in the Middle East.
In submissions to the Senate Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, the CS further said the review further seeks to increase the cadres of skilled and professional workers covered by the agreements.
“The Bilateral Labour Agreement with the government of United Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Government State of Kuwait on recruitment and employment of Kenyan workers have been finalised and approved by the National Treasury and Office of the Attorney General and forwarded to host countries for concurrence,” Bore said.
There have been calls for a ban on recruitment and export of domestic workers to Saudi Arabia until adequate protection measures are put in place.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that 90 Kenyans died in Saudi Arabia between 2019-2021. The reported distress calls during the same period were 1,908.
Kenya has developed other Bilateral Labour Agreements with six other countries namely UK, Poland, Oman, Jordan, Bahrain and Australia.
In her submissions, Bore said the long-term objective is to conclude such agreements with all labour destination countries.
The agreement with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE provided for the establishment of a Joint Technical Committee to monitor the implementation of the BLA.
The committee is expected to coordinate, carry out periodic reviews, assess and monitor implementation of the agreement.
Bore noted that areas of concern are in wage protection, protection of travel and identity documents, skills recognition, social security and health benefits and access to complaints mechanisms.
Bore was responding to questions by Kutui Senator Enock Wambua regarding the plight of Kenyan migrant workers in Saudi Arabia and other Middle East countries.
She explained to the Committee her strategy of improving the welfare of Kenyans making a living in the Arab countries.
During vetting, Bore’s plan to improve the welfare of Kenyans working abroad came under heavy criticism from members of the Committee on Appointments.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Moses Wetang’ula dismissed solutions suggested by Bore towards solving the plight of Kenyans in Saudi Arabia.
The Speaker said the matter required more than condemnation and public declarations.
Wetangula further added that Kenyans in the diaspora make significant contributions to the country's Gross Domestic Product.
"You need to coordinate a collective team of relevant government agencies and have bilateral discussions," Wetang’ula said.
As at 2021, Kenyans were sending back more than Sh400 billion annually in remittances, the third biggest labour migration remittances in Africa.
Diaspora remittances is currently Kenya’s highest foreign exchange earner having overtaken tea, coffee and tourism.
Suna East MP Junet Mohamed said it would be unreasonable to stop employment of Kenyans in the Gulf.
Deputy Speaker Gladys Shollei called for a pragmatic approach to ending the problems of Kenyans in the Gulf.
There have been calls for a ban on recruitment and export of domestic workers to Saudi Arabia until adequate protection measures are put in place.