By Tajeu Shadrack Nkapapa
During the sidelines of the Labour Migration Dialogue in Doha, Qatar, which aimed to enhance labour ties between African sending nations and the GCC receiving nations, Hon. Florence Bore, the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection, conversed with Mr. Mohamed Bin Badr Al Sadah, the CEO of Estithmar Company. Estithmar oversees five major companies in the Gulf region.
The discussion revolved around the recruitment of Kenyan workers into Qatar.
“We discussed the uptake of Kenyan workers into Qatar,” CS Bore wrote on X.
According to the CS, the CEO showed interest in hiring Kenyan workers and that they are currently employing health workers.
“The CEO expressed interest in employing our workers and mentioned that at the moment they are employing healthcare workers and I’m delighted that from our meeting we secured placement of 500 nurses,” the CS added.
Qatar hosts a significant number of Kenyan workers, particularly in sectors such as construction, hospitality and domestic services.
Efforts have been made to regulate and improve the conditions for Kenyan workers in Qatar, including agreements to protect their rights and ensure fair treatment.
Unemployment remains a significant challenge in Kenya, particularly among young people. Despite efforts by the government and various stakeholders to address the issue, job creation has not kept up with the increasing number of job seekers entering the workforce each year.