This archive report was first published on 7 May 2021.
As the government concludes the signing of bilateral labour agreements, Kenya is poised to send over 30,000 skilled workers to Gulf States by the end of June.
Labour Principal Secretary Peter Tum has stated that the Ministry is working closely with ambassadors of respective countries to streamline the process, which has been hijacked by unscrupulous recruitment agencies.
"We have signed bilateral labour agreements with Jordan, and we are working with other ambassadors to have all of them sign to be able to export workers," he said at the National Industrial Training Institute (NITA) in Kisumu on Thursday, May 6, 2021.
The targeted countries include Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Under the Rapid Response Initiative, the programme aims to craft labour migration policy that prioritizes the welfare of migrant workers.
The initiative is part of the government's plan to address high levels of unemployment, as Kenya's economy struggles to absorb over 400,000 youth who join the labour market every year.
As part of the plans to reform Kenyan migrant workers in the domestic sector, labourers will now undergo specialized training to cope with anticipated challenges in new work environments.
The training units have been adjusted to cover 200 hours, with 40 hours dedicated to industrial attachment.
Mr. Tum noted that culture shock relating to religious practice, dressing, male-female interactions, language, and lack of knowledge on how to use house appliances are some of the challenges experienced by Kenyans undertaking domestic work overseas.
