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{
    "id": 1120096,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1120096/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 364,
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    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "There is need to find out where they are staying, their wellbeing, healthcare and whether they are okay; whether they are being housed and so on. As Senators, we cannot play the ostrich at a time like this. We want to ensure that we create employment even for our fellow Kenyans. Exporting labour is good. It is a plus for this country. When we are exporting labour, we need to ask ourselves how these immigrants are being treated because it has been clear that the Committee found out that there are skilled and unskilled labourers who go to the UAE. We also have labour laws. Are they being adhered to even when they are out there? It is in order that when you work hard, your salary is equated to your hard work. It is unfortunate that when migrant workers go out of this country, the salary is pathetic. They cannot support their families rightly. In some areas, they are not allowed to stay with families. You can imagine being out of the country and cannot invite your wife to stay with you. You are alienated from your family, children and the society. There is need for the raft of recommendations that have come on the Floor of this House to be implemented. There is need to ensure that we know where our fellow Kenyans are going and what they are going through. When it comes to the demands of the Constitution, are their constitutional rights being violated? We must be our brothers‟ keepers. It is absurd and unthinkable that fellow Kenyans can complain and die, yet there is nothing we can do about it. We must be the Senate that is going to make a difference with regard to coming up with policies, implementing the labour policies which will ensure that when it comes to workers they are treated fairly. The Committee has stated that even for the workers who go out there, their agencies are paid USD$1900. It is unthinkable. The agencies are also eking a living and want the agency businesses to mushroom. They may not even care whether Kenyans are going to be mistreated or not. We cannot sacrifice the life of Kenyans at the expense of the dollar. I refuse. It is well meaning and in good breath that Sen. Sakaja has mentioned that after presenting this report, we should bring the curve of migrant workers going to the United Arab Emirates down until we are sure that when they go there, their socio-economic rights will not be violated. They should be allowed to get married while there. Marriage is an institution that is important. When they marry, their children should go to school. It is unthinkable that someone can work somewhere, but you cannot have a family or take care of it. When I was at the United Arab Emirates, I visited a Kenyan who is close to me. She told me that I could not sleep there because they were not allowed. You visit and leave. The right to be free and socialise with your significant others should not be infringed in the name of employment. I would like to state and I inform Sen. Sakaja that we are not refusing to export labour. We have to acknowledge that there are skillful Kenyans, but they may lack employment here. Even if we are exporting labour, let us be certain that the labour we are exporting, skilled or non-skilled, is not mistreated. People should not be treated like slaves. Gone are the years when we were slaves. When we got our independence, we were certain that we are free. We cannot decide that we are going"
}