Only 10,000 jobs on offer in first UAE, Kenya deal
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed giving her remarks on Kenya's economic diplomacy with foreign countries on August 27, 2014 at Norfolk Hotel. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- There was no information on which sectors would be open, or when the hiring would begin.
- There are at least 36,000 Kenyans working in the UAE, according to the Labour ministry.
The government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) says 10,000 jobs will be on offer initially for Kenyans, subject to conditions to be announced later.
This will be the pioneer batch of a 100,000 jobs deal reached between the two governments.
UAE’s Interior ministry officials told Sunday Nation the initial job openings would be pegged on available vacancies. An announcement on the conditions to be met would be announced later, they said.
“There will be a variety, maybe professional labourers, those who can work in oil industries or energy. We will also be looking for house keepers, baby sitters and the like,” said Col (Rtd) Humaid Mohamed Almheiri, a senior UAE official in the Interior ministry, on Thursday.
Last week, the government said 100,000 job opportunities had been secured in UAE for those willing to work in the Middle East country.
While launching the Kenya Foreign and Diaspora Policies, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed said a deal was struck last year when President Uhuru Kenyatta toured Abu Dhabi.
But there was no information on which sectors would be open, or when the hiring would begin.
TERROR SUSPICIONS
Col Almheiri and his colleagues were in Nairobi last week also as officials of the government-owned recruitment firm, Amala. Col Almheiri is the firm’s chairman.
They toured Kenya’s public technical training institutions and colleges involved in training hospitality students.
These included the National Youth Service, Kenya Utalii College and Kenya Industrial Training Institute.
The government said it had agreed to meet the conditions set by Amala to avoid previous problems Kenyans have faced in the Middle East, especially in semi-skilled jobs.
There are at least 36,000 Kenyans working in the UAE, according to the Labour ministry.
The latest development reflects a change in ties between the two countries. In April 2010, UAE issued tough immigration and labour rules to Kenyans wishing to transit or work there.
This was a reaction to Kenya’s decision to deport four Emiratis related to the ruling family over terror suspicions.
Meanwhile, the government has not said whether it will extend the same arrangements to Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and other Middle East countries where reports of mistreatment emerge every year.
