State Department for Labour and Skills Development

https://t.co/ri1ejZT2rT

KATIBU MKUU JAMAL KATUNDU AONGOZA KIKAO CHA USHIRIKIANO BAINA YA OFISI YA WAZIRI MKUU NA WIZARA YA KAZI KENYA Katibu Mkuu, Ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu, Kazi, Vijana, Ajira na Watu wenye Ulemavu, Prof. Jamal Katundu akiongoza kikao cha majadiliano kati ya of...

Wishing everyone a happy Eid Al-Fitr Mubarak

The Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services (DOSHS) from the State Department of Labour and Skills Development, today held "the first aid challenge", where enterprises showcased their skills in first aid.
This is part of the preparations for the week of safety and health that culminates in the celebration of the World day for Safety and Health, on 28th April every year.
The winner of this challenge shall be awarded in the ceremony on the day for Safety and Health

South Africa visits Kenya for benchmarking on Labour migration and labour management issues

Members of the Republic of S.Africa Portfolio Committee (PC) of Parliament on Employment and Labour paid a visit to the Kenya's Ministry of Labour and Social Protection's office yesterday and we're received by PS for Labour and Skills Development Hon Geoffrey Kaituko.

The leaders who had visited to bench mark on labour migration issues also benefited with the new ideas on labour management for both private and public sector, from the experts in the State Department who were present including the Ag Commissioner for Labor, in Kenya MS Hellen Apiyo among other senior officials from the technical departments , representatives from NITA and NEA.

They went further to engage on legal frameworks that govern the labour market, foreign labour management and discrimination in the labour market, as well as ways to making the environment conducive for all workers to prevent foreign labour influx in their country.

The key legal frameworks include the Employment Act and the Kenya Citizens & Immigration Act.

It was noted that sectors where Kenya has majority of foreigner in the labour sector in Kenya include manufacturing, hospitality, health, security and foreign recruitment agencies.

COOPERATION IN LABOUR MIGRATION AND PORTABILITY OF SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS IN THE E.A.C

State Department for Labour and Skills Development, Principal Secretary, Hon. Geoffrey Kaituko, today morning met with his counterpart Principal Secretary for East African Community, Hon. Abdi Dubat about the ongoing discussions on Labour migration. The meeting which took place at the Co-op Bank House,18th floor in the boardroom, deliberated on different matters that are fundamental principles of International Labour Market I.L.O, Social Security conventions and recommendations, as well as the challenges.

The Principal Secretary stated that due to the challenges that Kenyans who go to work in Saudi Arabia face, it has led to the ministry deregistering some Agencies and others being verified. He continued to say that some of these conflicts could also be brought about by people who are hired and are unable to take up their jobs. On the other hand, PS Dubat acknowledged the great progress that has been made by both integrated systems.

Accompanying them were senior ministry officials from both sides.

Labour and Skills Development Principal Secretary, Hon. Geoffrey Kaituko , this afternoon held talks on Labour Migration, with Chairman of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Ambassador Dr Lansana Gberie, who paid him a courtesy call at the Ministry headquaters, Social Security House, block A.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has been an invaluable partner to Kenya and the Ministry in particular since the country joined the organization in 1983.

The partnership has realized numerous milestones especially in the area of labour migration. It is a partnership that is clearly aligned with the current Government’s Agenda and one which the Ministry is committed to strengthening further.

The Principal Secretary who was sitting in for the Cabinet Secretary Hon. Florence Bore, affirmed to the Ministry’s commitment of seeing that the welfare and safety of migrant workers is improved, operations of the agencies, and also make their businesses competitive both in the local and international labour markets.

The PS noted that Kenya has seen an increase in the number of migrant workers returning to engage in economic activities hence transferring valuable skills gained during employment abroad, like in ICT and the Digital Economy, Finance, Agriculture and Building and Construction.

He cited various challenges faced in the process that has been continuous, some of them being inadequate access to accurate, timely and reliable data and information at the national and regional levels among others.

"The key challenges we face in this labour migration space is the inadequate access to accurate, timely and reliable data and information at the national and regional levels" , he said, adding that IOM is supporting Kenya and other countries in the region in strengthening the availability and quality of labour migration data, to inform evidence-based and gender-sensitive policies and programmes, especially around labour migration governance.

The Principal Secretary noted that not only in enhancing the welfare and safety of migrant workers but also will improve operations of the agencies and make their businesses competitive both in the local and international labour markets.

The Chairman of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Ambassador Dr Lansana Gberie, appreciated the immense support from the government of Kenya and promised total support to seeing the safety of migrant workers.

"I thank the government of Kenya for the support and an enabling atmosphere to work and assure my commitment to working with you for betterment of every person", said Mr. António.

Present at the meeting was Ms.Susan Demache, Chief of Mission, International Organization for Migration (IOM) Kenya Country Office and senior ministry officials among others.

KENYA TO CONDUCT CHILD LABOUR SURVEY AFTER 15 YEARS
Kenya is set to conduct Child Labour Survey this year after 15 years. This was deliberated in a meeting attended by the Principal Secretary for labour and skills Development, Hon Geoffrey Kaituko, Delegation from the European Union in Kenya, representatives from the International Labour Organization (ILO), officers from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) and representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.
The last Child Labour Analytical Report was developed in June 2008 from the data generated under the Kenya Integrated Household Survey of 2005/06. The report indicated then that 1.01 million children were in child labour.
These figures are likely to have gone higher mainly due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the severe drought being experienced in the region.
In Kenya, it is estimated that 90 per cent of children involved in child labour live in rural areas, mainly working on family land or in family units of tea, coffee, sugarcane, sisal, to***co, and rice plantations, as well as in fishing and the production of miraa (khat). This kind of work deprives the children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and in most instances, it is harmful to their physical and mental development.
Conducting the Child Labour Survey is one of the key priorities and the Survey is expected to produce accurate and reliable data on child labour in the country, its forms, prevalence across counties and current initiatives or programmes addressing child labour. The data will be disaggregated by various factors including disability. This will inform planning and implementation of programmes to ensure more accurate targeting hence improving outcomes.

The State Department for Labour and Skills Development together with officers from the State Department for Public service (Management Consultancy services) held a meeting this week. The main agenda of the meeting was to review the State Department's Organizational structure and staff establishment to operationalize and align to the Executive Order No. 1 of 2022 Revised.
This is to ensure efficient operation of the State Department and the Ministry as a whole.

PS State Department of labour and Skills Development Hon Geoffrey Kaituko today held a consultive discussion with members of the Labour Migration Sector regarding matters the labour migration.
The sector stakeholders include National Industrial Training Authority - NITA, National Employment Authority_Ke (NEA), ASMAK, KAPPEA, Office of the labour commissioner and Home care training Institutions representative among others.
Among issues deliberated were the need for quality pre-departure training for consumer destinations, training of trainers, good working relationships among stakeholders in the labour migration sector, understanding of the Labour Migration Bilateral Agreement, placing of a migrant desk at the Airport for purposes of data collection and accountability of labour migrants and Export of professional labour migrants to destinations such as UK, US, Canada, Australia etc among others.
In this regard, the PS asked members to embrace each other and work together for the betterment of the labour market and serving Kenyans at large.

Many thanks to Hon. Geoffrey Kaituko PS State Department for the exchanges with President & CEO Robyn Ferman on matters Work Force & Skills of the future
Enactus

Labour and Skills Development Principal Secretary, Hon Geoffrey Kaituko this afternoon had a sitting with madam Robyn Fehrman, President and CEO of Enactus, who is in the country to build a solid network of business and organizations’ support base for Enactus Kenya activities, and popularise the Enactus platform as a to-go-to platform for business, universities, university students, and government.

Enactus is a community of student, academic and bussiness leaders committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better and more sustainable world, with a vision of growth and development.

The meeting which was held at the Ministry headquaters deliberated on various mattters, some of them being creaing impact in academia, business, labour and government sectors.

Present in the meeting were senior ministry officials, a team from enactus Kenya and students from various local universities.

The PS State Department of labor and skills development today appeared before the The Parliamentary Departmental Committee on Labour to deliberate matters regarding consideration of budget allocation for the financial year 2023/24.
The state department has so far two new projects named the The Labour Migration and Export Programme and The Construction of the Kenya Post Training Institute.
The PS also requested and appealed for additional support from the committee in the following areas:
*Establishment and expansion of Labour Attache' Offices as per the Cabinet approval
*Enhanced support for all fields Stations (Labour, DOSHs &NEA).
*Institutionalization of the National Labour Board (NLB) and wages Councils (WCs) as provided for in the Labour Institutions Act
*Equipping of the Occupational Safety and Health Institute.
* Surveillance Equipment for work Environment and Workers Health
*Upgrading of Industrial Training Centers
* National Employment Promotion Centre, Kabete

Ministry of Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Hon. Florence Bore this morning, made a presentation on the overview of the mandate of the Ministry with respect to Kenyan Migrant Workers, to the Diaspora Affairs and Migrant workers Committee of National Assembly.

While taking the members through milestones made so far by my ministry and the challenges faced, the CS asked the committee for support in several areas including Fast tracking the approval and enactment of Labour Migration Management Bill, 2022.

She discussed her Saudi Tour and how the Ministry carried out a fact-finding mission in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia this January.

"Diaspora remittances is currently one of Kenya’s highest foreign exchange earners" she said, adding that Labour migration continues to greatly contribute to the growth and development of the country’s economy.

The CS also added that the Labour migration relieves unemployment pressure as a source of employment and livelihoods for migrant workers; as being one of the main avenues of technology and skills transfer between countries; and source of the much-needed remittances. Citing some of the challenges being inadequate financial and human resources to deliver on the mandate, inadequate Coordination of Labour Migration Management and
Inadequate Bilateral Labour Migration Agreements .

Federation of Kenyan Employers (FKE) led by the President and Chairman Dr. Habil.Olaka, CEO Ms. Jacqueline Mugo and other members paid a courtesy call to the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. In attendance was the PS for the State Department of Labour and Skills Development Hon Geoffrey Kaituko.

On their deliberations, the CS noted the importance of encouraging employers to embrace social dialogue with workers in order to find amicable solutions to industrial issues.

The CS committed to giving her support and leadership in fast tracking the Constitution and gazettement of the national labour board (NLB) and wages Councils in her tenure as the CS.

" I hereby commit to providing the requisite leadership to ensure that the review is done and finalized within my tenure in office.
I further commit to fast tracking the constitution and gazetement of the National Labour Board (NLB) and Wages Councils (Agricultural Industry and General)", she said.

The Cabinet Secretary called for support from the stakeholders on issues of employment, labour migration, occupational safety and health, review of labour laws, development of Alternative Dispute Resolution, policies and legislations in the labour sector.

She further noted that FKE was instrumental in reviewing the Labour Laws in 2007 adding that the Ministry has received many requests from pressure groups, employers and workers urging the ministry to accelerate the review the existing labour laws.

"It is no doubt that the review will go a long way in addressing the emerging issues in the world of work and in aligning the statutes to be in tandem with the Constitution of Kenya 2010" she retariated.