Government Warns Rogue Overseas Agents

By Mwakwaya Raymond 

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

Kenya’s government has put on notice all overseas jobs’ rogue agents that they would face the full force of the law if found operating without the required documentations.

State Department for Labour and Skills Development principal secretary Shadrack Mwadime says the government will no longer tolerate rogue agents at the expense of innocent Kenyans seeking green pastures in foreign lands for livelihoods.

Speaking in Mombasa during the graduation ceremony of 24 divers from Kerio Valley who underwent intense training at Bandari Maritime Academy (BMA), he said that some agents have refused to operate within the set standards, thus, causing jobseekers to be defraud their hard earn money by fraudsters.

“The government will take decisive measures to clean up the sector by closing down all rogue agents who fleece our youths’ their monies without giving the said jobs existing abroad.”

The PS said soon the government would embark on deregistration of agencies that have been flagged off as irresponsible and fraudulent when dealing with overseas job opportunities.

However, he called on all jobseekers to be wary and vigilant of cartels or brokers before handing any money being asked by unscrupulous agencies.

“Please visit the National Employment Authority website and you’ll be able to see all the questionable agencies are clearly marked in red,” he said.

The PS assured Kenyans who lost money through such agencies that they would be refunded their money and the bogus recruiters would be apprehended and brought to book.

“Yes, we know that Kenyans are desperate, but we cannot allow them to be exploited negatively.”

He explained that the government only facilitate the recruitment of Kenyans to work abroad by bringing the recruitment agencies together. 

“We don’t use private recruitment agencies. I think it’s critical we make this clear because many times people have been misinformed. We only facilitate.”

His remarks come barely days after the release of Amnesty International report entitled, “Locked In, Left Out: The Hidden Lives of Kenyan Domestic Workers in Saudi Arabia”.

The report documents the experiences of more than 70 women who had previously worked as domestic workers in the Gulf nation.

It recommends that the government to ensure there is a bilateral labour agreement with Saudi Arabia to protect all those Kenyans working as house-helps or house-managers there as par International Labour Organisation’s protocols.

As to unlock job opportunities in the maritime sector, Mwadime disclosed that his department is collaborating with the State Department of Immigration to devise ways and means of ensuring seamless issuance of the Seafarer’s Identification Documents (SID).

The essential travel document facilitates seafarers’ entry aboard vessels for shore leave, transit, transfer, or repatriation in various countries globally.

“Be rest assured that there is something in the offing that is being worked on and soon they will get the documents.”