Kenya Targets 10,000 Monthly Jobs in Saudi Arabia Under New Labour Deal

Kenya wants to place at least 10,000 workers in Saudi Arabia every month under a new labour cooperation arrangement meant to make overseas employment cheaper and more accessible.

Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua signed a Letter of Intent in Riyadh with Saudi Vice Minister for Human Resources and Social Development Abdullah bin Nasser Abuthnain. The agreement sets up a recruitment framework, starting with a three-month pilot that caps the total cost of hiring Kenyan workers.

The cap targets the high fees charged by recruitment agencies, which leave many job seekers struggling to raise money before they even start work abroad. Mutua said lower costs would let workers keep more of their earnings, save and invest.

Participation in the pilot is voluntary. Agencies in both countries can join if they can work within the agreed all-inclusive ceiling, and those who cannot will not be forced to.

Jobs are expected across transport, hospitality, education, healthcare, construction, retail, and oil and gas. Drivers, hospitality staff, teachers, tutors, medical practitioners and construction workers are among the targeted roles.

The National Employment Authority (NEA) will identify qualifying agencies and process job demand orders. Kenya will review the readiness of medical centres and speed up candidates’ paperwork, while Saudi Arabia will work with its Nairobi embassy to fast-track visas.

The two governments will review the pilot’s numbers and outcomes before deciding whether to extend or change it.

Mutua also warned Kenyans to avoid unlicensed agents and to deal only with agencies licensed by the NEA. He said the government would act against rogue agents, and stressed that workers must get decent jobs with their rights protected.

Source: https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2026-11-14-kenya-targets-10000-monthly-jobs-in-saudi-arabia-under-new-deal

Eddy Flint feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com