NAIROBI, Kenya, May 27 — The Parliamentary Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers Committee has commenced its inquiry into the conduct and role of private recruitment agencies in the recruitment of labour migrants and placement of students Abroad.
The Committee which is chaired by Taveta County Woman Representative Haika Mizighi says they will be meeting various stakeholders in a bid to address issues raised over the operations of some agencies in the recruitment and placement of migrant workers.
“We have seen Kenyans suffer out there in the diaspora. We have seen Kenya migrant workers outside the country crying all the time and saying we are suffering here, please can someone listen to us can someone help us.”
Mizighi added; “That is why we started this inquiry on the conduct of the agencies because during our stakeholders’ engagement, we realised that there’s a problem with the agencies and that is what we want to find out as we meet them and then the Cabinet Secretaries for Labour and Foreign Affairs.”
This follows public outcry over the unethical conduct of private recruitment agencies and issues raised in meetings with various stakeholders over the operations of some Private Employment Agencies in the recruitment and placement of migrant workers,
The House Committee is seeking details on the recruitment process by private recruitment agencies for skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled labour migrants.
MPs further asked about the contractual obligations of the agencies to the migrant workers, and the responsibilities of recruitment agencies in the pre-departure training and certification process.
