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State initiates overhaul of private recruitment agencies to combat exploitation

Labour and Skills Development PS Shadrack Mwadime. (X/Shadrack Mwadime)

By Issa Hussein | 21 Mar 2024

The government is taking decisive steps to reform Private Recruitment Agencies in a bid to address longstanding challenges in the sector, Labor and Skills Development PS Shadrack Mwadime has said.

He spoke during a visit to Garissa town on Thursday, where he revealed that a vetting committee, chaired by a senior security officer and comprising various security agencies, has been established to address issues such as human trafficking and child labor that have plagued the sector.

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Acknowledging past exploitation, he emphasized the government's commitment to preventing such abuses, disclosing that out of the 1,000 Private Recruitment Agencies (PRA) previously operating, the number has been halved to 500 through rigorous vetting.

During his visit, the PS engaged with staff at Garissa County labor offices to understand and address the challenges they face, emphasizing the importance of protecting young people from exploitation.

"We don't want our young people to be exploited. And therefore, we have been extremely firm on that," he said.

Encouraging youth to access job opportunities through the National Employment Authority website, he cautioned against dealing with disbanded Private Recruitment Agencies amidst ongoing vetting.

"One way of assuring our young people that the programme that we have is secure is to advise them to access the National Employment Authority website," he said.

PS Mwadime also highlighted government efforts in labor migration, noting ongoing negotiations with Germany for a bilateral labor agreement. This agreement aims to provide structured job opportunities for Kenyan youth abroad, ensuring transparency and preventing exploitation by unscrupulous agencies.

"We don't want a situation where Private Recruitment Agencies would enlist some of our young people to work abroad, but in many cases, there were no jobs there. And therefore, we have to do away with the unorthodox ways that some Private Recruitment Agencies have been using in their recruitment," he said.

Earlier today, along with other senior Ministry officials, I met with staff members of Garrissa County labour officers.@WaziriBore
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— PS LABOUR AND SKILLS DEVT, SHADRACK MWADIME (EBS) (@PSMwadime) March 20, 2024