The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has called for an ‘urgent’ enactment of the Labor Migration Management Bill.
Once passed, the law according to the organisation will among things help protect Kenyan workers and tame rogue recruitment agencies that violate the policies of workers abroad.
ILO's chief technical advisor Caroline Njuki said they are also committed to working with trade unions to create awareness of fair recruitment.
Njuki spoke during the opening of a migrant resource centre at the Cotu offices in Nairobi.
"This is part of the ongoing initiatives that could further strengthen the governance of labour migration and for which Cotu could bring a voice," she said.
"For the past year, ILO through the Better Regional Migration Management project collaborated with Cotu, and we have enhanced protection measures for Kenyan migrant workers.”
She also expressed her commitment to supporting mutual collaboration with trade unions in and out of Africa and strengthening social dialogue.
It was developed in consultation with the office of the Attorney General.
Labour Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore told Parliament there are plans to start fresh vetting of agencies responsible for the recruitment of Kenyan migrant workers afresh.
This is to protect migrant workers from the rampant exploitation they have been undergoing.
While appearing before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers, Bore said the sector is the leading source of remittance into the country and thus should be streamlined.
"Labour migration continues to greatly contribute to the growth and development of the country's economy," Bore said.
Trends in the last decade show tremendous growth in remittances inflow into the country, with increased fourfold from Sh104.3 billion in 2012 to Sh499.86 billion in 2022."
Njuki also spoke about the strengthening of the National Labour Board and the Wages Council which she said as an organisation, are ready to provide technical and financial support.
Caroline Rutto who represented Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli said the newly opened centre will help psychosocial support to the migrant workers.
The centre was put up by the union through the support of the ILO and UK Aid.
It will help in generating and updating labour market information and analysing migrant data to be used as an advocacy tool to raise awareness on labour rights for workers including migrant workers.
“The resource centre will also serve as the labour migration desk and will be attending to walk-in migrant workers seeking information on labour migration,” Rutto said.
