Protecting Kenyans Working Abroad

When returning home after travelling abroad with Kenya Airways, passengers feel as if they never left Kenya.

With Maasai beaded headbands adorning their attire, the welcoming Kenyan crew offers familiarity and comfort. Yet, a recent transit through Doha on Qatar Airways proved to be unexpectedly similar for one traveller. Security screenings were manned by personnel flaunting various shades of brown, much like those in Kenya. A delightful moment arose when the person in charge noticed the traveller's middle name, the same as his mother's, evoking heartfelt sentiments.

That morning, however, Mukasa from Uganda appeared indifferent to a conversation with an earnest demeanour. In addition, Qatar Airways has employed Kenyans in the cabin crew, plus there are cleaners from Kenya serving in the bathrooms. These examples highlight that there exists a substantial group of Kenyan employees within Qatar with divergent skills.

The Indian community living abroad is one of the most extensive in the world and the Indian government has acknowledged the same. They have devised a strategic policy to maintain the movement of their citizens who have been emigrating for over the past 150 years. Back in the day, one of the first significant involvements was sending "coolies" to Kenya who were responsible for constructing the British government's railway line. In the present day, consistent modifications have been made to their policies to ensure protection and welfare for migrant workers, culminating in the 1983 Emigration Act.

The focus is on helping migrant workers secure employment and ensuring that their best interests are positioned parallel against abuse and extortion. The key factor to manifest this idealism is mandatorily requiring recruiting agents to register themselves with the office of the Protector General of Emigrants (PGE).

The Indian government has taken steps to address complaints from Indian nationals working abroad. These complaints include unilateral changes to employment contracts and poor working conditions. Recruiting agents found to be at fault can be blacklisted, and certain countries, mostly in the Gulf region, require approval before Indian workers can be sent there. In contrast, the legislative framework in Kenya is still under development, although some progress has been made with bilateral labour agreements signed with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, and the placement of labour attachés in their respective diplomatic missions.

There is a pressing need to formulate a well-planned approach towards tackling youth unemployment and providing foreign exchange opportunities in Qatar, where Kenyan compatriots are thriving. The government is urged to take note of this issue and strive to discover a sustainable solution for the surging number of unemployed young individuals in the nation.