Kenya signs labour MoU with US covering 5 key areas
By Mustafa Juma, October 28, 2024
Kenya and the United States (US) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at fostering cooperation in labor rights and worker protections.
Cabinet Secretary for Labour Alfred Mutua through a statement shared via his official X account on Monday, October 28, 2024, revealed that he had signed the MoU on behalf of Kenya, while Deputy Undersecretary Thea Lee from the U.S. Bureau of International Labour Affairs, represented the US.
Labour rights
The MoU underscores a mutual commitment to advancing labor rights, promoting fair working conditions, and supporting sustainable economic growth through improved labor standards.
The agreement, signed in Nairobi, outlines joint initiatives to improve workplace safety and health standards, prevent child and forced labor, and strengthen frameworks for social protections.
Mutua on Kenya-US MoU
According to CS Mutua, the MoU is a pivotal step in establishing a partnership that supports “inclusive economic development” and provides workers with robust protections to navigate an increasingly globalized economy.
“Today, on behalf of the Kenyan Government, I had the honour of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States Department of Labour, marking a significant step towards strengthening labour cooperation between Kenya and the U.S. This agreement reflects our shared commitment to enhancing labour standards, protecting workers’ rights, and fostering inclusive economic development,” Mutua stated.
Mutua stated that the U.S. delegation, led by Thea Lee, emphasized the value of workers’ rights as foundational to democracy and economic stability.
Lee echoed the importance of cooperation between the two nations, particularly in implementing policies that provide safe and fair conditions for workers.
“The U.S. delegation, led by Thea Lee, Deputy Undersecretary for the Bureau of International Labour Affairs, (ILAB_DOL) emphasized the importance of workers’ rights as a cornerstone of a functioning democracy. The MoU covers several key areas, including occupational safety, health standards, child labour and forced labour prevention, and frameworks for social protection,” Mutua’s statement reads.
𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐅 𝐌𝐎𝐔 𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐊𝐄𝐍𝐘𝐀 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐔.𝐒. 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐋𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐂𝐎𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍
— Dr. Alfred N. Mutua (@DrAlfredMutua) October 28, 2024
Today, on behalf of the Kenyan Government, I had the honour of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)… pic.twitter.com/5C3d8OKyzz
Mutua has been signing various labour MoUs with different countries as a means of addressing the unemployment issue in the country.
Mutua met with Qatar Labour Minister Ali Saeed Samikh Al-Marri on Sunday, October 6, 2024, and signed another agreement that would see the number of Kenyans working in Qatar increase to 200,000 from 67,000.
During the meeting, CS Mutua lauded the move indicating that it is key to addressing the issue of unemployment in the country.
“Currently, there are about 67,000 Kenyans working in Qatar. With this new agreement, we anticipate that number to rise significantly—possibly reaching over 200,000—unlocking a wave of employment opportunities for Kenyan professionals in Qatar’s key development sectors,” Mutua’s statement read in part.