Kenyan Labour CS Secures 200,000 Jobs for Skilled Workers in Qatar.
Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua announced that Kenya is set to send skilled workers to Qatar, a significant shift from previous agreements, which only involved unskilled labor migration.
During a meeting with his Qatari counterpart, Saeed Samikh Al-Marri, in Nairobi, Mutua revealed that both countries are formalizing a bilateral labour agreement aimed at providing opportunities for skilled Kenyans, a crucial move as the government seeks to address high unemployment rates among graduates.
The new agreement will amend the 2012 Bilateral Labour Agreement between Kenya and Qatar, which previously focused solely on unskilled labor.
This revision will enable Kenyans with specific skills to access job opportunities in various sectors of the Qatari workforce.
Mutua emphasized that Kenya has initiated bilateral talks to finalize a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will focus on skilled labor migration.
Key Areas of Focus
Mutua explained that the discussions between the two nations have paved the way for Kenyans to access opportunities in sectors such as ICT, health, education, infrastructure, and agriculture.
These fields are crucial as Qatar embarks on its ambitious development projects, which demand a higher number of skilled professionals.
The meeting, held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), was a significant step in broadening Kenya’s labor market in the Gulf region.
Currently, approximately 67,000 Kenyans work in Qatar. However, discussions during the meeting also focused on increasing this number to between 200,000 and 300,000.
The Qatari Labour Minister, Saeed Samikh Al-Marri, indicated that the agreement would focus on critical areas of development, such as education, ICT, and oil and gas, with the goal of utilizing highly skilled Kenyan workers to meet Qatar’s growing needs.
Qatar Visa Centre in Nairobi
As part of the new agreement, Kenya will establish a Qatar Visa Centre in Nairobi. This facility will assist Kenyans applying for jobs in Qatar by streamlining the documentation process.
Mutua noted that this center would ensure that contracts are signed appropriately and all necessary paperwork is completed before workers depart for Qatar.
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Mutua stressed that the new MoU would offer thousands of Kenyans the chance to gain valuable work experience while contributing to Qatar’s development.
He reassured that the government is committed to ensuring ethical treatment and protection of Kenyan workers in Qatar, addressing concerns about past incidents where Kenyans were mistreated abroad.
Kenyan Labour CS Secures 200,000 Jobs for Skilled Workers in Qatar
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