PS Njogu unveils 4-pillar framework to guide labour mobility cooperation with Canada
By Faith Lagat, November 17, 2025Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu has unveiled a comprehensive four-pillar framework aimed at enhancing labour mobility cooperation between Kenya and Canada.
Speaking as the chief guest at a high-level meeting held at the Canadian High Commission in Kenya, PS Njogu outlined a strategic approach to align Kenya’s youthful workforce with Canada’s labour market demands through ethical and mutually beneficial pathways.
The meeting, attended by representatives from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Canadian High Commission, marks a critical step in transforming labour mobility into a strategic partnership for shared prosperity.
PS Njogu articulated the four pillars guiding this collaboration:
- Skills and certification
- Robust worker protection
- Leveraging technology and diaspora
- Principled approach to broader cooperation
“PS Njogu outlined a comprehensive four-pillar approach to guide the partnership, including skills and certification, robust worker protection, leveraging technology and diaspora, and a principled approach to broader cooperation,” the State Department for Diaspora Affairs announced in an X post dated November 17, 2025.
Addressing labour shortages
The framework aims to address critical labour shortages in Canada while equipping Kenyan workers with skills and experience that can fuel national development.
Highlighting the mutual benefits, PS Njogu emphasised, “The PS pointed out that this approach to mobility is a win-win, addressing critical labour shortages in Canada while providing Kenya with skills and valuable experience that fuel national development.”
The discussions focused on integrating Kenya’s vibrant youth workforce into Canada’s aging labour market, a move expected to boost Kenya’s $4 billion annual remittance inflows.
The framework prioritises ethical migration, ensuring that the movement of labour benefits both nations while protecting the rights and welfare of workers.
Kenyan workers in Saudi Arabia to benefit from minimum wage
Concurrently, Kenyan workers in Saudi Arabia are set to benefit from a new minimum wage of SAR 1,000 (approximately Ksh34,455) per month, effective February 2026.
The Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh announced the reform on November 16, 2025, as part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing labour reforms following the Kafala system overhaul.
The embassy urged employees to verify the implementation of the minimum wage with their employers, reflecting efforts to safeguard worker rights amid past disparities where foreign workers lacked standardised wages.
In October 2025, Saudi Arabia introduced a standardised contract to reduce wage disputes and attract investment, complementing global labour mobility trends.