Kenyans working abroad are now guaranteed of a serene environment owing to the tough regulations the government has put in place.

Labour and Skills Development Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime has said the government has inked bilateral labour agreements that seek to safeguard Kenyan employees from exploitation.

He said the pact are human-rights based as per the International Labour Organization (ILO)Model.

“That will guarantee the rights of our young Kenyans as they work in these countries”, stated the Principal Secretary.

He said the government is further dispatching labour attaches to every nation to ensure the rights of Kenyans are safeguarded.

“In case anybody finds himself or herself in a wanting situation, you can easily reach out to a government officer who will be able to attend to your needs”, Mr. Mwadime clarified.

The Principal Secretary said the government has additional issued firm instructions to the country’s foreign embassies, directing them to get in touch with Kenyan employees based in their respective nations.

Mr. Mwadime made the remarks last evening at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi during the flagging off of over 15 Kenyans who are heading to Oman for employment opportunities.

He said the government’s decision to fetch employment opportunities for young Kenyans in foreign countries is a strategy to empower them with not only work but skills as well.

“The policy we are pushing for currently is circular migration. As they go to these countries, they will meet technology at an advanced level in comparison to Kenya”, Mr. Mwadime stated.

The Principal Secretary announced the government has partnered with financial institutions to support needy Kenyans destined to work in foreign countries.

“Kenya Commercial Bank has come in strongly to assist us in this programme and therefore they are giving out loans to our young people to the tune of Ksh. 300,000 for those heading to the gulf region and Ksh. 600,000 to those migrating to Europe”, he said.

Mr. Mwadime allayed fears of higher taxation on the loans, saying only a single digit would be charged on the principle amount as interest.

“What we have pushed, both the private sector and government financial institutions like Youth Enterprise Fund to charge is a one-digit interest because we have to consider the fact that this are young people most of them not employed before and we need to support them”, he emphasized.

Satima Technologies Director Virginia Murithi acknowledged the government for creating an enabling environment for local recruitment agencies.

“This is the first time we have received support from the government. And the support we have received enable us to source out more manpower for our Kenyans”, she said.

The move to endorse the regulations was informed by emerging complains by a section of Kenyans, who in the recent years claimed to be mistreated by their respective employers, especially in the Middle East.