The Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Labour and Social Protection, Dr. Alfred Mutua, has announced a raft of reforms aimed at streamlining the recruitment and deployment process for Kenyans seeking employment abroad on September 18.
CS Mutua made the announcement while speaking at a meeting with private recruitment agencies and home care training institutions convened at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
Mutua revealed that the new measures were the result of extensive consultations with key stakeholders both in Kenya and overseas.
Among the reforms highlighted was the introduction of an assessment system which will be evaluated on a scale of 100 points, divided into three components.
Mutua sheds light on the assessment system
“The components will encompass 65% for practicals which will be 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%,” part of the statement read.
NITA will distribute guidelines to all trainers by November 1.
At the same time, the Labour CS emphasized the need for practical training tailored to the cultural context of the destination countries.
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He announced that there is an ongoing construction carried out by NITA in Mombasa County to help domestic workers prepare for employment in Saudi Arabia.
He added that NITA will also provide trainers with pictures and designs illustrating the minimum standards for an Arabic home.
Mutua explains reason behind the new measures
According to Mutua, the measures introduced are 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.
Mutua also pledged to get rid of rogue employment agencies, saying that there is an ongoing investigation against them by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and that those found culpable will be suspended.
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“The government has also reached out to banks to avail financing to agencies so that they can stop burdening job seekers,” Mutua said.
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.
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