Kenya calls for stronger labour migration partnerships to protect migrant workers
JULIUS NDEGWA-PCO
Labour and Skills Development Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime has called for the adoption of good practices in labour migration partnerships to ensure the protection of migrant workers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.
According to the PS, labour migration partnerships need to guarantee decent work for migrant workers to maximize their socio-economic contribution in both their countries of origin and destinations.
Addressing the European Migration Network (EMN) Austria National Conference 2024 in Vienna, Mr. Mwadime stated that such agreements foster sustainable labour migration and skills development by, among other things, establishing legal migration pathways.
“Clear, legal channels for migration reduce irregular migration, protect workers from exploitation and trafficking, and ensure they move in a safe, orderly, and regular manner,” he told the conference, which was themed ‘Unleashing the Potential of Migration Partnerships: Towards a Comprehensive Approach.’
He observed that Skills Mobility Partnerships (SMPs) between countries are becoming more pronounced as they align skills development with the needs of the labour market, both in sending and receiving countries.
This includes developing appropriate training programs. “Skills mobility partnerships ensure that workers are skilled and meet the specific demands of the labour market in the destination country.”
However, despite their potential benefits, Mr. Mwadime regretted that labour migration partnerships face several challenges that continue to hinder their effective implementation.
He cited the example of workers who may migrate through irregular channels, bypassing legal pathways, thus complicating the management of migration.
Further, despite training programs, a mismatch between the skills of migrant workers and the needs of the receiving country’s labour market can result in workers being employed in jobs that do not align with their qualifications or skills.
This reduces their ability to earn a decent wage and can lead to exploitation, the PS noted.
He singled out the EU member states for recognition of skills migration partnerships as a policy tool to promote a sustainable approach to skilled migration and mobility, benefiting both the countries of origin and destination.
“EU Member States are confronted with a need for new skills and labour, prompted by rapid technological changes, digitization, and demographic shifts. SMPs present one possible response to the future of work,” he said.
He added that Kenya has adopted strategic policies on labour migration that will ensure it enters into well-structured labour partnerships, creating capacities for regular, structured, and orderly migration pathways.
“Looking ahead, the future of labour migration will be shaped by several emerging trends and priorities that build more sustainable and resilient migration systems while addressing evolving global labour market needs. This will ultimately include increased demand of highly skilled workers in the digital space and the green economy,” the PS said.
He said it was for this reason that Kenya has over the years, signed bilateral labour agreements (BLA) with several countries including the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Federal Republic of Germany while it has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) with United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Austria on Labour Cooperation.
The two day conference aimed at exploring the dynamics of the various types of migration partnerships, how they are negotiated and implemented, how effective they are and how they can be improved.
It was attended by among others representatives of International Organization of Migration (IOM), Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior and the EU.