Employment agencies protest over passport procedures

Officials from the National Employment Authority (NEA) and private employment agency representatives have aired their grievances regarding the cumbersome procedures involved in obtaining passports and travel documents.

The agents expressed their concerns to the Committee on Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers, chaired by Taita Taveta MP Lydia Haika, at a meeting in Mombasa on Saturday.

These included prolonged candidate training periods and steep license renewal fees, hindering the facilitation of smooth international employment opportunities for job seekers abroad.

According to the agents, addressing these concerns is vital to streamline the process and support the aspirations of migrant workers.

The Committee was briefed on various issues, including the establishment, registration, vetting, and accreditation processes for recruitment agencies in the country, along with the effectiveness of current procedures for both local and foreign agencies.

Private employment agency representatives raised concerns about lengthy candidate training, high license renewal fees, and cumbersome passport and travel document acquisition processes.

They also criticised the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) for requiring at least a form four certificate, discouraging applicants from poor backgrounds with low education.

The Committee has further denounced agencies operating without valid licenses and proper documentation.

Acting Director Labour Migration, Mr Joseph Njue, thanked the Committee for its efforts and committed to addressing legislators' concerns. He advised Kenyans to exercise due diligence when selecting agencies, highlighting NEA's website portal for verifying cleared agencies.

“Kenyans should do due diligence on the agencies they intend to work with. They should not engage agencies that are not cleared by NEA. On the website portal, all the agencies that are cleared are marked in black and all those that are not are marked in red.” said Njue

Other difficulties, such as candidates fleeing upon arrival in the diaspora, known as 'the Kembois,' were raised. The agents viewed them as a problem and a danger to their market.

Haika assured representatives that all raised issues would be included in the report for further action.