The government has announced that Kenya will send 2,500 nurses to Saudi Arabia in mid-January 2024 following the signing of a new Bilateral Labour Agreement (BLA).
Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary (CS) Florence Bore announced on Thursday that the move is supported by the bilateral agreement between Kenya and the Gulf nation that has set new conditions for exporting human resources.
"We want to streamline the process of the migrant workers. We want to ensure that we identify the right cadre of workers, process them well, and follow them even when they arrive there. We will also get to know the terms of their contracts," she said.
Additionally, she said that the opportunities for the nurses, both diploma and degree graduates in nursing, were secured during her recent visit to Saudi Arabia.
"We are processing them and we should be able to be done by the middle of January and send them to Saudi."
Did you read this?
To create a seamless approach, Bore added that she had met a labor recruitment agency from Saudi Arabia, which will be traveling to various recruiting agencies in the country.
The labor CS stated that the conference will involve government authorities and private recruitment companies.
The nation intends to export more labor through the signed BLA.
"We're looking forward to take more Kenyans, to flag off migrant workers that go to Saudi. We are even looking forward to have a desk at the airport," she noted.
Kenya has so far exported about 200,000 domestic and skilled workers to the Gulf country.
