Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has issued an update on the Qatar jobs after an overwhelming number of Kenyans showed up with the hopes of securing employment overseas.
The depths of unemployment in the country manifested itself on Friday, October 25 after thousands showed up at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) for interviews for job opportunities in the Middle East.
This was after the government’s recent negotiations with the gulf nation, which opened up 8000 job opportunities for Kenyans in various sectors including hospitality, service, construction, and technical areas.
On Saturday, Mutua issued an update on the recruitment process, revealing that all slots in the hospitality sector have already been filled.
“Due to the large turnout of Kenyans for interviews, many positions have already been filled. We appreciate your patience and your efforts to take advantage of this opportunity,” he stated.
Further, the CS also clarified that a majority of the interviews would be conducted at the Kabete National Polytechnic on Sunday, October 27 from 8 am. Candidates hunting for the nursing jobs would see their interviews take place at KICC.
Unfortunately, ladies hoping to land cleaner jobs in Qatar will have to wait for the next recruitment drive as all the slots have been spoken for. Men, however, still stand a chance.
Among the technical jobs up for grabs include construction helpers, Rigger Signalmen, electricians, plumbers, masons, tile layers, steel fixers, painters, welders, scaffolders, and duct men.
The new recruitment drive by the government seeks to open doors for Kenyans with technical and advanced skills to work abroad.
Bilateral talks between Kenya and Qatar also set the stage for a new Memorandum of Understanding, which will give Kenyans an easier pathway to more lucrative jobs in the Gulf.
On October 7, President Ruto consolidated his relationship with the Qatar government during a meeting at State House, where he thanked Qatar’s Minister of Labour, Dr Ali Bin Samikh Al-Marri for facilitating the setting up of a Qatar Visa Centre in Nairobi as well as a new station which will go a long way in ensuring job contracts are properly signed.
With the new deal, the government anticipates the Kenyan labour force in Qatar to rise from 67,000 to 200,000.
