Atwoli Calls for a Ban of Recruitment Agencies Taking Kenyan Migrant Workers to Gulf Countries

Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has called on the government to ban recruitment agencies overseeing the migration of Kenyans to the Middle East for work.

Atwoli says Kenyan migrant workers in Gulf countries, especially Saudi Arabia, are subjected to what he termed as “indirect slavery.”

“I am appealing to our government, let us ban all employment agencies. What these people are trying to do with our young daughters and sons is applying indirect slavery,” Atwoli told NTV in an interview.

The veteran trade unionist further expressed confidence that President Ruto’s administration will address the unemployment menace and urged jobless Kenyans youths to be patient.

“Let us remain here as poor as we are, we have a new government that is now struggling to refurbish our economy, the economy will grow after appointment of ministers having been vetted and we will be able to access jobs in this country,” said Atwoli.

He added: “You better earn Sh10,000 and remain in this country, there are jobs outside there that are demeaning, not respectful and not decent as advocated for by the International Labor Organization.”

In June, the Kenyan government announced plans to establish safe houses as part of its efforts to safeguard Kenyan migrant workers in the Middle East.

Outgoing Labor Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui said the government had set aside Sh70 million to build safe houses in Saudi Arabia where cases of torture and death of Kenyan workers have been rampant.

Hundreds of domestic workers in Saudi Arabia have reported being subjected to psychological and physical torture by their employers, with some cases leading to death.

The number of Kenyans working and living in Saudi Arabia rose from 55,000 in 2019 to 97,000 this year, according to data from the Parliament’s Committee on Labor and Social Welfare.