Kenya to Review Labour Agreements with Saudi Arabia and Gulf States to Protect Workers

The Kenyan government is reviewing its labour agreement with Saudi Arabia to improve protections for Kenyan workers in the Gulf region.

At the African Regional Labour Administration Centre (ARLAC) meeting in Kisumu, Principal Secretary for Labour and Skills Development, Shadrack Mwadime, emphasised the government’s commitment to protecting the rights of Kenyans employed abroad. Diplomatic talks with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries aim to ensure migrant workers are treated with dignity and fairness.

Kenya’s bilateral labour agreement with Saudi Arabia, signed in 2017, regulates the recruitment and employment of domestic workers. However, enforcement weaknesses have left many workers vulnerable. From 2019 to 2021, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recorded 90 Kenyan deaths in Saudi Arabia and nearly 2,000 distress calls from workers reporting serious difficulties. These figures have led to calls for urgent reforms.

The ARLAC forum brought together senior labour officials from eight African countries to discuss migrant worker rights and labour policies. Kenya’s involvement highlights regional concerns over the treatment of African workers in the Gulf, where demand for domestic workers is high. According to the International Labour Organization, nearly four million migrant domestic workers are employed across Saudi Arabia and neighbouring countries, with about 150,000 of them Kenyan.

Kenya’s Parliament Work and Social Welfare Committee has urged the government to revise contracts, increase accountability, and strengthen monitoring. Lawmakers highlighted issues such as unpaid wages, contract disputes, and restricted communication with families. Some have proposed temporarily halting the recruitment of domestic workers to Saudi Arabia until stronger protections are established.

In addition to Saudi Arabia, Kenya has bilateral labour agreements with six other countries: Australia, Jordan, Oman, Poland, the United Kingdom, and Bahrain. These agreements seek to regulate labour migration, uphold international labour standards, and protect workers. Officials hope that improving these agreements will provide safer job opportunities and enhance the welfare of Kenyans working abroad.