‘Verify recruitment agencies to avoid being duped’ – Labour CS Mutua tells job seekers

Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has encouraged job seekers to verify the authenticity of the recruitment agencies in order to avoid being duped by rogue ones.

Mutua made the comment after attending the Kenya-German Labour Migration Conference and Job Fair at Sarit Expo, Nairobi, on Friday, September 27, 2024.

The event aimed to raise awareness of employment opportunities in Germany while educating Kenyans on the legal procedures necessary for migration and work in that country.

“I extend my deepest gratitude to the government of Germany for their unwavering support in hosting this job fair and their continued partnership in promoting labour mobility for Kenyans.

“As we move forward, I encourage job seekers to verify recruitment agencies through the National Employment Authority to avoid being duped by rogue agents. Our Kenyans in Germany have been excellent ambassadors, and we must continue to represent our country with dignity and honesty while seizing the opportunities provided by this partnership.

“We are also enhancing the regulation of private recruitment agencies to ensure they follow ethical practices. The One-Stop Shop (OSS) for Labour Migration Services, along with the Labour Migration Desk at JKIA, will further simplify the migration process,” Mutua said in a statement on X.

Agreement

Kenya and the European nation signed a bilateral labour agreement on September 13, 2024, in Berlin, and the deal laid the groundwork for labour mobility, apprenticeships, student training, and worker welfare.

“This agreement underscores the government’s commitment to expanding labour mobility pathways and ensuring safe, regular, and orderly migration. A Joint Implementation Committee, comprising officials from both countries, will oversee the execution and monitoring of the agreement.

“To ensure these opportunities are accessed safely, the government is focusing on building capacity, ensuring mutual recognition of qualifications, and offering German language training in partnership with the Goethe-Institut,” Mutua added.

The former Machakos County Governor said that in the last two years, the Ministry of Labour has facilitated the deployment of 213,000 Kenyans to work abroad, with diaspora remittances reaching Ksh52.4 billion as of May 2024.

“Germany alone has contributed 495 job orders, with 39 Kenyans already cleared for work in the country.

The CS asserts that Germany remains a key destination for Kenyan workers.