Kenya has signed a Letter of Intent with Saudi Arabia to facilitate the recruitment of at least 10,000 Kenyan workers every month under a proposed arrangement aimed at reducing the cost of securing jobs in the Gulf country.
Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua announced the agreement after meeting Saudi Arabia’s Vice Minister for Human Resources and Social Development, Dr Abdullah bin Nasser Abuthnain, in Riyadh.
The agreement provides for an initial three-month pilot programme, with an agreed ceiling on all-inclusive recruitment costs to ease the financial burden on Kenyans seeking employment abroad.
Mutua said the arrangement reflected a shared commitment to making overseas employment more affordable, allowing workers to retain a larger share of their earnings.
"Our position was that reducing these costs would allow workers to retain more of their earnings, save and invest in their future, while making overseas employment more accessible," he said.
Participation in the pilot programme will be voluntary for recruitment agencies in both countries. Only agencies willing and able to operate within the proposed cost ceiling will qualify.
The targeted job opportunities will span transport, hospitality, education, healthcare, construction, retail, and the oil and gas sectors.
Under the arrangement, the Kenyan government will facilitate compliance by participating recruitment agencies, assess the readiness of medical centres and support faster processing of candidates' documents.
