President William Ruto‘s Kenya Kwanza government has commenced plans to create jobs for qualified Kenyans in Germany.
Labour Cabinet Secretary (CS) Florence Bore on February 13 held discussions on labour migration with a German delegation led by Dr. Joachim Stamp, Commissioner for Migration of Germany.
The State Department for Diaspora Affairs said the formal engagement was an important process of laying a foundation for Kenya and Germany to collaborate on issues of migration noting the social and economic aspirations of both countries.
CS Bore confirmed the two governments will implement a labour exchange programme to address the unemployment rates in Kenya and the shortage of workers in Germany.
“Our two countries have officially kicked off the process that is meant to address the issue of shortage of skills in the German labour market as well as the surplus of skilled and non-skilled labour in Kenya. This initial critical step is commitment to the process of actualizing a labour mobility agreement between our two countries,” she said.
Bore revealed that the German government has implemented new rules to allow for easy immigration of foreign workers.
“I’m also happy to note that Germany has adopted a new immigration law which provides for an easy and simplified process of immigration to Germany particularly for skilled workers,” said Bore.
In attendance were Diaspora Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu and Ambassador Valerie Rugene, Charge D’Affaires Embassy of the Republic of Kenya to Berlin.
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Njogu Meeting
PS Njogu also chaired a meeting between representatives from the African Association of German Business and recruiters from both Kenya and Germany.
The meeting outlined existing challenges and provided recommendations for solutions in labour migration and management between the two countries.
“The consultative engagement is a significant collaboration and partnership between the Government and the private sector from both countries to provide practical and sustainable solutions for social and economic needs,” read a statement by the State Department of Diaspora.
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Ruto Foreign Jobs Promise
Speaking on February 3, President William Ruto emphasized his plans to create decent job opportunities for Kenyans both locally and abroad.
Ruto said he held discussions with developed nations to pay Kenyan workers between Ksh150,000 and Ksh200,000 per month.
“There are opportunities for the youth to work abroad and we have agreed that our youth will be paid between Ksh.150,000 and Ksh.200,000,” he said.
The president explained that the government already advertised foreign job opportunities for nurses adding that the number would increase to 500,000.
Ruto said the government will provide employment opportunities in digital jobs and housing for local youths.
Kenyan Unemployment Rate
Unemployment Rate in Kenya decreased to 4.90 percent in January 2023 from 5.30 percent in July 2022.
The unemployment rates averaged 8.98 percent from 1991 until 2022.
It reached an all-time high of 12.20 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009 and a record low of 4.70 percent in the second quarter of 2019.
