The Ministry of Labour has unveiled new measures to regulate agencies offering Kenyans jobs abroad. 

With the living conditions of Kenyans in the diaspora worsening every day, the government pinned the blame on recruiting agencies it claimed have been operating without checks and balances. 

According to Labour CS Simon Chelugui, a committee was formed and tasked with vetting the recruitment agencies and their staff to ascertain their expertise and legality. 

Agencies will be subjected to scrutiny every year before their licenses and that of their staff are renewed. 

National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani (Right) and Labour Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui (Left), at NSSF building in Nairobi on January 16, 2020.  FILE

"These new measures will ensure any Kenyan willing to travel and work abroad is protected," Chelugui announced.  

Kenya also recently introduced a wage protection program and a distress alert line - 0800222223 - that will allow  Kenyans in the Gulf state to seek help.

Saudi Arabia further formed a protection and support department under the Ministry of Human Resources tasked with handling complaints from migrant workers, recruitment agencies and embassies. 

To assure foreigners that it had looked into their grievances, it also allowed employees to change employers and cancel or extend contracts. 

"In addition, the employment agencies will have to induct Kenyans through the new measures before they sign a contract," Kenya's Ministry of Labour announced the changes. 

However, despite the developments, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary (PS) Ambassador Kamau Macharia claimed that some Kenyans force their employers to act wildly and thus ought to be blamed for the misfortunes. 

"There are some places the kind of submissiveness required from domestic workers is not innate in Kenyan job seekers. 

"Sometimes our people will not be so subservient and are very ancient when they secure jobs in countries like Saudi Arabia," Macharia claimed. 

Saudi Arabia Capital City, Riyadh.  ALJAZEERA, By By OSCAR NALYANYA , Kenyans..co.ke