CS Labour Announces New Measures to Streamline Recruitment and Deployment of Kenyans Seeking Jobs Abroad
The Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection, Dr. Alfred Mutua, has announced a series of reforms aimed at streamlining the recruitment and deployment process for Kenyans seeking employment abroad. Speaking at a meeting with private recruitment agencies and home care training institutions at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Dr. Mutua revealed that the new measures were the result of extensive consultations with key stakeholders both in Kenya and overseas.
The reforms are designed to bring efficiency to employment and labor migration, with several key administrative changes set to take effect. One of the major changes is the introduction of a new registration system for employment agencies. The initial registration certificate for new employment agencies will now be valid for one year, costing Ksh 500,000. The renewal of registration certificates will be extended to a period of two years, a change from the current one-year renewal period. This will be priced at Ksh 500,000 for two years, or Ksh 250,000 per year with an option for one-year renewal. These changes will take effect from September 23, and those currently holding renewal notifications can also benefit from this reform. To ensure compliance, the National Employment Authority (NEA) has fully staffed its compliance section to enforce these new regulations.
In an effort to enhance the preparation of Kenyans working abroad, Dr. Mutua announced changes to pre-departure training and orientation programs. Homecare management training will now be combined with pre-departure training, reducing the total training period from 26 days to 14 days. This new structure allocates 10 days for homecare training and 4 days for pre-departure orientation. For other skilled migrant workers, the pre-departure training will be reduced to 2 days. The assessment for these programs will be completed within 5 days, with certification issued 3 days thereafter.
The assessment system will be evaluated on a scale of 100 points, divided into three components: 65% for practicals administered by the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), 25% for continuous assessment by trainers, and 10% for pre-departure theory, including literacy and civic education. The pass mark for this evaluation will be set at 60%. To support the implementation of this new curriculum, NITA will distribute the revised guidelines to all trainers by November 1.
Furthermore, as part of the reforms, migrant workers who have previously worked in Gulf countries as domestic workers and have successfully completed their contracts will be exempt from the homecare and pre-departure training requirements.
Dr. Mutua emphasized the need for practical training tailored to the cultural context of the destination countries. He announced that a model house, reflecting an Arabic home setting, is being constructed by NITA in Mombasa to help domestic workers prepare for employment in Saudi Arabia. NITA will also provide trainers with pictures and designs illustrating the minimum standards for an Arabic home. The cost ceiling for homecare management and pre-departure training will be set at Ksh 14,000.
The raft of measures is expected to streamline labor mobility for Kenyan citizens, aligning with the government's ambition to facilitate the deployment of between 5,000 to 10,000 Kenyans to work abroad each week. The CS pledged to weed out rogue agencies saying the DCI is currently investigating several agencies whose registration will be suspended. The government has also reached out to banks to avail financing to agencies so that they can stop burdening job seekers. Dr. Mutua was accompanied at the event by the Principal Secretary of the State Department of Labour, Shadrach Mwadime, the Director-General of the National Employment Authority, Edith Okoki, and the Acting Director-General of NITA, Teresa Wasike.