Labour Ministry to Ensure Safety of Domestic Workers Abroad

The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has said that its staff are devoted to making sure Kenyan domestic workers abroad are safe. 

Deputy Labour Commissioner Bonaya Kase remarked that through the National Employment Authority, rogue employment agencies have been deregistered. Kase proclaimed that a list of valid and certified bureaus can be found on NEA's website. Kase's submissions came while speaking at the Pride Inn Azure Hotel in Westlands, Nairobi on Friday during International Domestic Workers Day, which is celebrated each year on June 16.

“Any worker willing to work out of the country can only do so through the registered agencies. The theme of the global event this year  is being ''safe and decent work for domestic workers.'' Kase said. 

Kase declared that the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, which is in charge of the State Department for Labour and Skills Development, is dedicated to ratifying the ILO Convention 189 Domestic Workers’ Convention. He emphasized that the safety of workers is a fundamental human right and that it is something that all workers, including domestic workers, should have access to. According to ILO research, there are a total of 75.6 million domestic workers worldwide, with Kenya accounting for over two million.

The ILO has had a pivotal role in advocating for legal safeguards that recognize domestic labour as a legitimate job with explicit labour privileges. Gender and Affirmative Action Principal Secretary Veronica Nduva, who attended the event on behalf of the Labour and Skills Development Principal Secretary Geoffrey Kaituko, remarked that the ILO Convention 189 is an important step towards attaining decent working and living conditions. Nonetheless, she underscored the ministry's commitment to defending the rights of all employees, including domestic workers, by providing for minimum wage standards.