Scrutinise foreign jobs
What you need to know:
- Whereas all this sounds great, it is important to remember that the region has never been a friendly destination for Kenyan workers.
- Cases abound of people who were lured with lucrative job prospects and went there with great expectations, only to be subjected to torture and pitiful existence.
Unemployment remains a major challenge confronting this country and efforts to address it deserve credit.
This is why the deal to send some 100,000 workers to the United Arab Emirates is welcome as it provides a unique opportunity for the unemployed youth.
So far, the permanent secretary in the Foreign Affairs office, Dr Karanja Kibicho, has announced that those seeking employment in the UAE will be subjected to stringent vetting to ensure only those with requisite skills and experience get appointments.
Whereas all this sounds great, it is important to remember that the region has never been a friendly destination for Kenyan workers.
Cases abound of people who were lured with lucrative job prospects and went there with great expectations, only to be subjected to torture and pitiful existence.
Another example elsewhere was in a southern African country, where Kenya secured contracts for teachers but who, upon arrival there, were subjected to horrifying working conditions, forcing them to come back.
As we applaud the effort, the government has to critically examine the terms on offer for Kenyan workers going out there and ensure its citizens are not exploited.
