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{
    "id": 1623753,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1623753/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 247,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Tabitha Mutinda",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "This Bill will ensure that our people can get the fairest earnings. The fact that there is an understanding, there is a policy in place, it will give our people an opportunity to earn fairly or be able to match other foreigners who are also working in those countries. At times, people from other countries are paid higher than our Kenyan people, yet they are doing or offering the same services that are needed. This is quite unfair. The Bill also brings in the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, which will need to have a clear database, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of our migrant workers or Kenyan workers who got jobs abroad and are working in those spaces. At times, it is shocking that until an individual raises an alarm that they are going through a mistreatment or challenges with this particular employer and move to the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, or the Ministry Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, who are not even aware that that person travelled for that purpose or anything like that. It becomes a challenge where the loved ones now end up having the pressure and the stress of trying to find one of their own, because the channel that was used is not within the database. So, the Bill provides that the authority that will be in place will ensure total collaboration and ensure that the data is in place for our people who are travelling and moving to work in these foreign countries. Some of the functions are to ensure that they register and regulate private employment agencies because this is where we have had a challenge. We have had those who are genuine and we have had those who are rogue and after the money. They take money from Kenyans without offering them jobs. There is a need for the development of pre-departure programmes for migrant workers. At times, our people get these jobs and because we have different cultures in different foreign countries, they are not able to adapt to those cultures. They are not able to understand how they are supposed to behave. We have examples of the ones who get the house jobs. It becomes a challenge in how they dress and how they handle certain things because the culture there is different from our own culture. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the authority will ensure that even before departure, there is what we call a pre-departure programme for the migrant workers, which will ensure that they are more informed. They get more informed as far as their rights are concerned in that foreign country. They will also be informed of the policies that are in place, where they can report, the channels that they can use in case they have challenges or in case there is a disagreement between the employer and the employee. In the current scenario, we find that they run away from this particular employment and they are nicknamed Kemboi or something like that. This is what has been happening. Does it solve the problem? It does not solve the problem. Identification and creation of awareness on employment opportunities in any of those foreign countries to facilitate access to the new opportunities. I do not believe that someone would just want to work at the same level in the same spot, for years and years. They want to transition. It is good when there is a platform for them to ensure that the information reaches them. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}