The National Government through the Ministry of Labour on Saturday, June 29, announced that 500 private recruitment agencies had been shut down following a vetting exercise.
This was communicated by Principal Secretary State Department of Labour and Skill Development Shadrack Mwadime.
Speaking in Rong’e, Mwatate in Taita Taveta County, Mwadime remarked that the vetting exercise was conducted after cases of recruitment agencies conning vulnerable Kenyans.
“There are many job opportunities opening up abroad but if you explain to the youth they think it's not true because they have been duped by conmen and lost their cash,” Mwadime explained why many people had lost faith in recruitment agencies.
“That is the reason we vetted private recruitment agencies. Initially, we had about 1,000 we reduced them and now they are around 500.”
Mwadime explained that the vetting would be a continuous process to ensure that labour migration happened in an organised and structured way.
Those interested in available jobs abroad were encouraged to visit the National Employment Authority Integrated Management System (NEAMIS) online.
Mwadime explained that the Ministry of Labour had made it possible for Kenyans to see all approved as well as blacklisted agencies.
“When you access NEAMIS, you will see those highlighted in red meaning their legal status is wanting. Those in black are the approved ones,” he explained.
According to the Principal Secretary, the Ministry of Labour has been able to list 300,000 jobs available abroad.
The jobs are periodically uploaded by private recruitment agencies as a condition from the government.
PS Mwadime remarked that labour migration was at an all-time high and encouraged able Kenyans to establish recruitment agencies to meet the demand.
As part of a plan to end unemployment and increase diaspora remittances, the Kenya Kwanza administration envisions exporting 5,000 Kenyans every week to work abroad.
