There are only 65 recruitment firms that have been authorized to find and place Kenyans in jobs abroad. This has been revealed by the Cabinet Secretary for Labour Ukur Yattani.

The new regulations on who can find and place Kenyans on jobs abroad is the latest measure in a series of efforts aimed at halting the continuous mistreatment that Kenyan workers, especially women, have been going through while working in the Middle East.

“Agencies especially in Nairobi have fully complied with the regulatory framework but very little is said at the Coast. Those wishing to engage in recruitment must familiarize themselves with the new requirement and regulations,” he said.

For a start, recruitment firms at the Coast region were announced as falling short of complying with the requisite rules and regulations.

The secretary further announced that more measures will be announced to avoid exposing low skilled workers to inhabitable working conditions abroad.

“In April 2016, the government lifted the ban on export of all categories except domestic and low skilled cadres. Any engagement of this vulnerable group will only be allowed with countries which have signed a bilateral agreement with Kenya. This will protect domestic and low skilled cadres from any mistreatment, abuse or job scam. Job-seekers should be informed of what they are signing up for and the conditions of work abroad,” Mr Yatani said.