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{
    "id": 1273144,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1273144/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 361,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ms. Florence Bore",
    "speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Office of the Attorney-General, has prepared amendments to the Bilateral Labour Agreement and the same has been submitted to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for consideration. 2. The other measure taken by the Ministry is that we have established a labour attaché office in Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In addition, labour attaché offices have been established in the State of Qatar and United Arab Emirates (UAE), where we have our officers placed. We only have three labour attachés that are hosted in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and UAE. The labour attaché office is mandated to, among other things, source for employment opportunities, monitor the implementation of BLAs and address the welfare of Kenyan migrant workers, including those who are in distress. However, there is need to establish additional labour attaché offices in the following cities in Saudi Arabia: Jeddah, Dammam and Tabuk. The reason for this is so that we have more attachés to be able to serve Kenyan migrant workers out there. The three that we have are not enough. We need as many as 14 labour attachés to be situated in countries where there are Kenyan migrant workers. The Cabinet approved the establishment of seven more labour attaché offices in February 2021. However, it is important for this House to note that this has been hampered by budgetary allocation. 3. The other measure taken by the Ministry is that, together with other stakeholders, we have developed the National Policy on Labour Migration. The policy provides a framework for promotion of inclusive and sustainable development of the country through safe, orderly and productive labour migration. The policy was presented to the Cabinet in February 2023. Further, the Cabinet directed certain amendments to the policy. The policy will be resubmitted to the Cabinet within the next three weeks. I know that it should be submitted within a week due to changes that have been made. 4. The other measure is that the Ministry, in collaboration with stakeholders, has developed the Labour Migration Management Bill, 2023. The Bill seeks to promote safe, ethical and orderly recruitment and to safeguard the rights and welfare of migrant workers. The Bill has additional clauses to make recruitment agencies more accountable and to periodically report on the welfare of the migrant workers recruited. The Office of the Attorney-General has finalised drafting the Bill which now awaits submission to the Cabinet for approval before submission to Parliament for consideration and enactment. I ask this House to support us on this Bill. 5. The other measure is that the Ministry is developing a robust curriculum for pre- departure training. The training will equip Kenyan migrant workers to Saudi Arabia with the pre-requisite skills, information and knowledge to enable them to navigate the challenges that they may encounter during their stay in the Kingdom. Some of the pre-departure skills that we want to equip the workers with are basic understanding of the language and culture of the countries they are going to so that when they go to work there, they can adapt easily. 6. The other measure is that we have identified a critical institution to be established in Kenya, that is, the Migrant Workers’ Welfare Fund. The Cabinet approved the establishment of the Fund in February 2021. This Fund is also provided for under the Executive Order No.1 of 2023. The main objective of the Fund is to provide protection, welfare and assistance to Kenyan migrant worker out there. The National Treasury and the Office of the Attorney-General have approved the establishment of the Fund under an Act of Parliament. The Ministry, with the support of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), has The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}