The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli on Wednesday, July 12, poked holes in a new deal that would see Kenya send nurses to Saudi Arabia.
In a statement, Atwoli remarked that while it was commendable that President William Ruto’s government was engaging in bilateral labour agreements, the deals did not favour all Kenyans.
Atwoli noted that the deal to take nurses to Saudi Arabia has left out unskilled domestic workers who suffer in the gulf country at the hands of abusive employers.
“COTU would like to commend the government, specifically the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, for engaging in a bilateral labour migration agreement with Saudi Arabia.
“However, we would like to call upon the government to not only engage in bilateral agreements for specialized workers but also for domestic workers,” he complained.
The vocal trade unionist further faulted the government for not doing away with recruiting agencies.
He challenged the Ministry of Labour to take full charge of recruiting Kenyans who were seeking to work abroad.
“The Ministry should forthwith stop the operations of private employment agencies which have been promoting modern-day slavery,” he noted.
On Tuesday, July 11, Labour Cabinet Secretary (CS) Florence Bore announced that Kenyans could apply for nursing and midwifery jobs in Saudi Arabia.
Additionally, on Friday, June 30, Foreign Affairs CS Alfred Mutua launched a platform for Kenyans seeking jobs abroad.
The online platform ‘Kazi Majuu’ had a section where jobseekers key in details to agents who are recruiting people from different parts of the world.
Atwoli now wants the agents to be eliminated noting that not only do they dupe vulnerable Kenyans but also send them to harsh working conditions.
