President William Ruto has said that the government is set to ratify two critical International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions.
The President announced a raft of reforms in the labour sector during the 60th celebration of Labour Day in Nairobi.
Ruto said the government will ratify ILO Convention 189 (2011) on domestic workers to safeguard their dignity and rights.
They will further ratify ILO Convention 190 (2019) on eliminating violence and harassment in the world of work.
"I am also pleased to announce that Kenya will ratify two critical ILO conventions: a) ILO Convention 189 (2011) on domestic workers to safeguard their dignity and rights; and b) ILO Convention 190 (2019) on eliminating violence and harassment in the world of work," the President said.
ILO Conventions are international treaties adopted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to establish international labour standards.
They are legally binding on member states that ratify them, setting out fundamental rights and principles at work.
These conventions cover a wide range of topics, including freedom of association, forced labour, discrimination, child labour, and more.
Ruto said the right to join a union for the protection of the values of fair pay, safe working conditions, and the right to unionise is a constitutional guarantee.
"I have directed the Ministry of Labour and all relevant agencies to ensure that even employees under outsourced contracts can freely join trade unions and benefit from collective bargaining frameworks," he added.
The President said Labour migration continues to be a cornerstone of the strategy to expand job opportunities for Kenyans.
Last year, over 200,000 Kenyans secured jobs abroad, adding that this year, the state is strengthening the efforts through targeted recruitment and bilateral labour agreements.
"The newly opened Labour Attaché Office in Berlin will help operationalise these partnerships and serve as a strategic hub for accessing opportunities in the broader European Union.
Ruto said the International Labour Day grants Kenyans a timely reminder of the constitutional and moral duty to uphold the dignity of labour without discrimination by age, gender, race, ethnicity, or ability, and to continually confront the evolving challenges facing our workforce.
According to him, this year’s theme, Self-Reliance in Production is the Key to Economic Growth, resonates deeply with the collective national ambition.
He said it calls on all Kenyans and the government, workers, entrepreneurs, and communities to champion a country that is resilient, productive, and truly self-sufficient.
