Senate to engage Labour and Foreign Affairs ministries over labour migration
The Senate Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare has announced that it will summon the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to engage in protecting ethical and transparent labour migration practices.
This is after the Committee, chaired by substantive Chairperson Senator Beth Syengo, held a crucial engagement with representatives from the Association of Skilled Migrant Agencies of Kenya (ASMAK) and the Kenya Association of Private Employment Agencies (KAPEA) on July 31, 2025, to examine challenges facing Kenya’s labour migration sector.
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“Senator Syengo challenged ASMAK and KAPEA to unite under one federation for a stronger voice. She confirmed that the committee will summon the relevant ministries for further engagements aimed at safeguarding ethical, safe, and transparent labour migration,” read the statement shared by the Senate on X.
The discussions
The Senate revealed that the committee focused on reports of worker exploitation, the re-emergence of deregistered agencies under new names, and the lack of effective coordination between government institutions and recruitment agencies.
This is after recruiters described a system weighed down by red tape, embassy bottlenecks, and limited support once workers are deployed abroad.
ASMAK and KAPEA raised alarm over frequent interference from unlicensed actors and weak enforcement of licensing laws.
KAPEA Chairperson Arjuma Omar Mwangala described Kenyan embassies in countries like Qatar and the UAE as “barriers instead of facilitators,” urging Parliament to streamline processes that protect workers and legitimate agencies alike.
On his part, ASMAK Secretary General Monica Moema emphasised the need for inter-ministerial cooperation.
Additionally, she said the National Employment Authority (NEA), Ministry of Labour, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs must harmonise efforts to improve worker welfare and repatriation procedures.
“The lives of our workers are in our hands, but we lack the necessary support,” the senator stated.
Senator Justice Stewart Madzayo, while Senators Miraj Abdillahi (Mombasa), Okong’o Omogeni (Nyamira), and Seki Lemu Kadar (Kajiado) joined the session virtually via Zoom, demanded stricter regulation and accountability from both government and associations in the labour export chain.
