Refugees and other forcibly displaced persons should have greater access to jobs, education and skills development to rebuild their lives while contributing meaningfully to host economies, experts said.
They say that despite possessing valuable skills and experience, many
refugees remain locked out of labour markets because of restrictive policies,
legislative barriers, labour exploitation and limited access to education and
employment opportunities.
The experts add that removing these obstacles would
allow refugees to earn a living, support themselves and contribute their
expertise to host communities.
Labour and Skills Development Principal Secretary Shadrack
Mwadime said governments, employers and workers all have a shared
responsibility to ensure commitments to protect and empower displaced persons
translate into practical policies and measurable outcomes.
"The State Department for
Labour and Skills Development will continue to partner with the International
Labour Organisation (ILO) to
translate policy into practice and meaningful outcomes for displaced people and
host communities," Mwadime said.
He said the government remains
committed to promoting tripartite dialogue involving governments, employers and
workers' organisations, describing it as critical to building inclusive labour
markets and creating employment opportunities through shared responsibility.
Forced
displacement is a regional challenge that requires coordinated responses,
shared learning and reforms that extend beyond individual programmes.
Mwadime said the
humanitarian system is under increasing strain, with many displaced people
facing low incomes, hunger, limited access to essential services, inadequate
skills development and weak labour protections.
He also warned that increasingly
restrictive migration policies expose displaced people to criminal networks
that exploit those seeking to move across borders.
The PS called for greater
recognition of the skills and experience refugees possess, including knowledge
acquired outside formal education systems.
Kenya currently hosts more than
800,000 refugees.
According to the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees, while 75 per cent of refugees worldwide have
legal access to work either fully or partially, 62 per cent live in countries
where access to employment remains restricted in practice.
UNHCR also estimates that one-third
of refugees live in countries with restrictions on freedom of movement, while
56 per cent reside in countries where refugee identity documents issued by
governments or UNHCR are not recognised for opening bank accounts, further
limiting their economic participation.
To address these barriers, the ILO developed the Guiding Principles on the Access
of Refugees and Other Forcibly Displaced Persons to the Labour Market.
Adopted in 2016, the voluntary
principles provide a framework for governments, employers and workers'
organisations to develop policies that promote access to decent work while
protecting the rights of both host communities and displaced populations.
The principles focus on six key
areas, including governance frameworks for labour market access, inclusive
employment policies, labour rights and equal opportunities, stronger
partnerships, voluntary repatriation and reintegration and expanded labour
mobility pathways.
They also encourage member states
to develop national employment policies that include refugees and other
forcibly displaced persons, while strengthening public employment services, job
placement programmes and career guidance.
The framework further calls for
targeted support for women and young people from refugee communities through
improved access to education, lifelong learning, childcare and after-school
programmes, recognising that meaningful employment remains central to restoring
dignity, self-reliance and long-term inclusion.
