President William Ruto has said the first recruitment exercise of the more than 250,000 opportunities for Kenyan workers in Germany will begin in two weeks.
Speaking during a stakeholder roundtable meeting in Germany on Saturday, September 14, 2024, Ruto revealed that the Kenyan workers were ready and excited about the signing of the landmark labour mobility deal.
“Pèople in Kenya are very excited about the signing of this agreement, and I am told by the Ministry responsible for diaspora affairs that the first recruitment exercise will happen in two weeks. That tells you how ready pèople have been,” Ruto observed.
Ruto praises Kenyans
During the session, Ruto expressed confidence in Kenyan workers, adding that the German companies stand to gain a lot from the workforce.
“The agreement that was signed yesterday protects Kenyan labour from èxploitation, working within the rules and making sure they are renumerated in accordance with the law, and making sure that there is clarity in how they are contracted. It also gives our German companies the confidence that they are dealing with pèople with skills that are genuine, tested, and licensed so that it becomes a win-win both ways,” he said.
In the agreement signed by Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Germany’s Minister of Interior Nancy Faeser in the presence of Ruto and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the two countries will facilitate the travels into Germany to plug a labour deficit in Europe’s biggest economy.
Benefits of the deal
The labour mobility pact will facilitate the placement of Kenyan talent in opportunities in Germany and alleviate German shortages.
Also, it will promote the mobility of skilled workers, apprentices, and students for training, vocational education, and employment, including seasonal work.
For students, Germany, by its applicable law, shall issue long-stay visas for residence to eligible Kenyans for study or vocational training.
However, on the expiry of the long-stay visa, Kenyans may receive a temporary residence permit for study purposes in Germany for up to two years. The temporary residence permit may be extended if the purpose of residence has not yet been achieved but is achievable within a reasonable period.
Students or apprentices of Kenya who complete their academic or vocational training in Germany and wish to gather initial professional experience there may, within the framework of applicable law.
