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{
    "id": 133990,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/133990/?format=api",
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    "content": "not given any money even to operationalize the laws is very difficult. I think this Ministry is under-staffed given the level of workforce. It would be fair to say that the Ministry of Finance has its people here and we are looking forward to adjustments upwards in the Supplementary Budget so that the Ministry can begin to work for our people. So far, what has been said by my colleagues, if you go to complain in a labour office, first, you are a criminal. However, there are some cases where people complain unnecessarily. We need both employers and employees to know that there is an arbiter, which can work well for us. Why would we not want to facilitate them? Why would we want to import a million bulbs? This thing bothers me; that in a budget somebody wants to import light bulbs and not fund the Ministry of Labour. If you funded the Ministry of Labour, employers will be able to pay people and people will be able to buy their own bulbs. I do not think our people want to be beggars. Our people want good working conditions so that they can work and participate in the economy. I always wonder which mode we are going to use to give somebody in Siaya, for example, a light bulb. It looks cheap, ill conceived and I do not think a Government should operate like that. I think we need to be fair. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to raise one issue which I think is really hurting our workers. This is the issue of foreigners working in this country at all levels. If you go the Intercontinental Hotel and Hilton Hotel, which are Government hotels, even chefs and heads of beverage are foreigners. These are Government hotels and these foreigners are given work permits by this very Government. Something weird is happening because there are no jobs in Italy, Italians are now working in our hotels. The Ministry of State for Immigration and Registration of Persons is giving them permits. The Ministry of Labour is not even checking because many of them are here illegally. Something ought to be done. I have raised this issue with the Minister before but nothing seems to be changing. Our people are losing jobs by the day in these hotels. These are quality jobs and yet we say we cannot create jobs. This is not a free for all country. But if it is, let us declare it free for all. We have our own qualified people living in United States of America (USA) and Europe because the job market here has shrunk. We need to create a scenario where they can come in and we absorb them with dignity. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to go on record that something is happening in the hotel industry which is not right. If you go the beach hotels, you will find that those who work there are paid peanuts. You cannot tell me that beach hotels are not making money. In fact, I raised this issue in the debate for the Ministry of Tourism. They are making a lot of money except that it is left in Europe. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Finance must do something. The Ministry of Labour must do something and the Ministry of State for Immigration and Registration of Persons must stand up and be on the side of Kenyans and not on the side of foreigners. We have to protect our people. I think it is the duty of this House to protect the people of this country. We can do that."
}