Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 948315,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/948315/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 414,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Bomet CWR, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Ms.) Joyce Korir",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 11255,
        "legal_name": "Joyce Chepkoech Korir",
        "slug": "joyce-chepkoech-korir"
    },
    "content": "by Kenyans. They work for only seven hours a day. There is also the issue of prepaid 21 working days annual leave. Rest-off days are also given. Every Friday is a rest day with full pay, which Kenyans do not pay. This is a fact. This is what we found out. When somebody goes there on his own, then all these issues happen. We do not deny that. In fact, it is captured in our Report. One Member said that we did not capture the fact that there are some Kenyans who are being mistreated. The Report does not deny that there are Kenyans in Saudi Arabia who are suffering. Recommendation 5.1 acknowledges the challenges and seeks to address them by asking the relevant Government agencies to be extra vigilant. They should ensure that only Kenyans with valid and compliant employment contracts travel to Saudi Arabia. Even though we are making this recommendation, there are Kenyans who pay for themselves and go for tourism. Once there they start looking for jobs. As a country, we still have a long way to go. I want to assure you that as the Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, we are trying our best in terms of streamlining this. There is also the issue of service pay on termination of service. A worker is entitled to a one month’s half salary for every complete year for the first two years. An employee who has worked for more than five years is entitled to one month’s salary for every complete year of service. Remember these are just temporary workers in the hospitality sector. These are shop attendants, drivers, domestic workers or factory workers, but they are entitled to all this. So, I want to request Members to adopt this Report. Let them know that those are our brothers and sisters and we wish them well and better life. Because of unemployment in this country, there is nothing we can do. In fact, Asian countries like India have over 600,000 employees in Saudi Arabia. We are just talking of 40,000. The issue here is how we can improve on this as we look for more opportunities not only for those jobs, but also professional ones. I want to request the House to support this Report. Anything that Members feel we should adjust, they are free to tell us because we want to have a better nation. Thank you."
}