Senior Kenyan government officials and the Paramedic Association of New Brunswick (PANB) held high-level discussions in Fredericton in Canada/XThe government has cautioned Kenyans against using tourist visas to seek employment opportunities abroad, emphasising the need to follow formal recruitment channels to avoid exploitation and loss of money.
Labour Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime said the government is concerned by the growing number of Kenyans travelling overseas on tourist visas in search of work, a practice that often leads to frustration and financial loss.
“I want to warn young Kenyans that getting a tourist visa does not guarantee you a job in the international labour market. A work permit will guarantee you a job,” Mwadime said.
The PS spoke in Canada, where he led a delegation to scout for structured employment opportunities for skilled Kenyans under government-to-government arrangements.
According to Mwadime, the aim of the visit is to identify official and legitimate job openings available through the Canadian government and reputable employers.
“Our objective is to know the official job opportunities available in accordance with the government of Canada,” he stated.
He expressed concern that many Kenyans have wasted their savings pursuing dubious promises of foreign employment through unauthorised agents or tourist visas.
“Rather than being cheated or hoodwinked by people who steal your money, we should create this official pathway that allows you to access jobs safely and legally,” he said.
Mwadime also warned recruitment agencies, some of which have been accused of defrauding job seekers.
He said the government will not hesitate to take action against any agency found to be conning Kenyans through false advertisements or unverified promises.
“We do not want Kenyans to be duped or conned out of their hard-earned money by bogus agencies. They place adverts on social media and deceive our young people about job opportunities abroad that do not exist,” the PS warned.
He revealed that the Labour Ministry is enhancing regulation and monitoring of recruitment agencies to ensure all overseas employment arrangements are transparent, safe, and beneficial to Kenyan workers.
In addition to securing employment opportunities, Mwadime announced that the government is developing an incentive package to encourage Kenyans working abroad to invest back home.
“We desire to come up with packages for Kenyans as they work abroad by ensuring that we give tax holidays so that their investments yield the highest possible returns,” he said.
During his tour of Canada, the PS met with Deputy Ministers from various provinces, held meetings with employers, and visited institutions for benchmarking and partnership development.
At a leading trucking company in Winnipeg, Mwadime announced that at least 100 Kenyan drivers and mechanics would be recruited as part of new labour mobility partnerships between the two countries.
“This initiative aims to create new employment opportunities and strengthen labour mobility between Kenya and Canada,” he noted.
He also visited the Nova Scotia Community College, where discussions focused on collaboration in training of trainers, aligning certification standards, and developing articulation agreements for student credentials.
The talks also explored expanding opportunities under Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
In Manitoba, Mwadime led Kenya’s labour delegation in high-level meetings with Deputy Ministers Michael Jack and Mitchelle Wallace, where discussions centered on creating safe and structured pathways for Kenyan workers.
The PS also met Manitoba Chamber of Commerce CEO Chuck Davidson and major employers, including the Progressive Group and Manitoba Pork Council, to explore job creation and industry partnership opportunities for skilled Kenyan labour.
In Toronto, Mwadime held talks with Chief International Talent Officer Farah Huq to explore safe, transparent labour mobility pathways and align Kenyan training standards to international requirements.
In Halifax, the Kenyan delegation met with the Construction Association of Nova Scotia to discuss skills development, certification, and training for Kenyans preparing for employment in Canada’s construction industry.
A major milestone of the visit was an agreement between the Paramedic Association of New Brunswick (PANB) and the Kenyan government to collaborate in enhancing paramedic training and job placement.
The partnership will implement the World Bank’s Global Skills Partnerships model, aimed at training Kenyan youth for both local and international healthcare roles.
The collaboration will adopt PANB’s education standards while ensuring ethical and transparent recruitment aligned with World Health Organization (WHO) principles.
Immediate priorities include evaluating existing curricula, strengthening instructor capacity, and creating clear, worker-protective pathways to licensure and employment.
Mwadime said the government remains committed to expanding structured labour mobility partnerships that protect Kenyan workers and ensure mutual benefits for both Kenya and host countries.
“Our focus is on creating dignified, well-regulated opportunities that benefit both the Kenyan people and the economies we partner with,” he affirmed.
