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How Much Did Facebook Pay Aaron Cheruiyot To Propose A Bill Seeking to Bar Tech Companies From Being Sued In Kenya?
Kericho County Senator Aaron Cheruiyot on Monday clarified his proposed bill aimed at preventing workers from suing tech companies in Kenya. His bill comes two months after the Court of Appeal ruled that Facebook’s parent company, Meta, can be sued in Kenya in a case filed by over 180 content moderators.
Taking to his official X handle, Cheruiyot clarified that the Business Laws Amendment Bill was seeking to make Kenya globally competitive to attract investors while observing our own labour laws.
“This is a two-part bill made up of various business laws from different industry players collated by Min of Trade and Industry under the ease of doing business and global competitiveness program. Basically, laws which the industry is asking us to review to make us more attractive for investment,” he explained.
The Senate Majority Leader, highlighted the clause that seeks to prevent workers from suing tech employees saying it concerns players in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector.
“This particular clause is the proposal from the Ministry for the players in the B.P.O space. A growing sector that currently employs thousands with the potential to explode and employ millions,” he stated, adding that the clause seeks to attract investments in the sector, tapping into Kenya’s young population.
The Senator observed that for Kenya to fully realise its full potential, favourable policies need to be made to attract industry players in the BPO in a bid to address unemployment in Kenya.
Cheruiyot argued that BPO companies have shown interest in Kenya because the country has many fluent English speakers and the presence of a good number of tech-savvy young people.
He dismissed the notion that once the bill sails through workers will not be protected. Tech companies will still be mandated to observe certain labour standards and handle all HR-related disputes with their employees in the countries they operate in.
“Remember the employment agreement is between the Kenyan employee and the BPO as such that when a dispute arises, the laws of the land apply,” he asserted.
Cheruiyot, however, noted there was need to curb the exploitation and manipulation of Kenyan workers, thus stringent measures need to be made. “Maybe we could tighten the drafting to ensure the BPOs observe an even higher standard of labour practice to alley the fears many have,” he added.
The proposed legislation will undergo public participation. Cheruiyot therefore called on interested parties to give their input before the trade committee which is handling the bill.
The court had previously ruled that Kenyan courts have jurisdiction over the matter, but Meta challenged the ruling on appeal.
Nationwide Job Recruitment Faces Hiccups as Applicants Complain of Extortion
- by Maurine Kirambia on Tuesday, 26 November 2024 -
The nationwide recruitment drive for overseas jobs kicked off in the Rift Valley region on Monday, November 25, but allegations of extortion by recruitment agencies marred the exercise.
Speaking at the region’s first recruitment centre in Nakuru, applicants told the press that some agents asked them to part with money to secure the slots.
“Some of the agents are asking for processing fees…they are asking for between Ksh150,000 and Ksh180,000. We do not have that kind of money so we do not know why we are here,” said one of the applicants.
However, Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua assured the applicants at the station that the exercise would be free and fair, further urging them to do their due diligence to determine the specifics of their jobs.
Kenyans lining up for jobs at KICC
“The Qatar jobs will pay for tickets but will not pay for medical or visa. So it differs. Before you leave this place, get to know how much is required of you,” he told them.
“The agencies here are now working under my watch. Nobody will extort any Kenyan citizen for jobs when I am the Labour CS."
The nationwide recruitment drive is part of President William Ruto’s plan to curb unemployment by sending 20,000 Kenyans to practice in Qatar, Europe, Canada, and Australia.
The Nakuru recruitment sought to provide 1000 jobs for the residents in different sectors. Baringo is next in line with the recruitment drive set to take place on Tuesday, November 26.
In addition to the alleged extortion, the applicants also raised an issue with the types of jobs on offer, stating that some of them are not worth the hassle.
“Something like riding a bicycle or a motorbike is not something to go to Dubai to do. It is something that can be done in the country. Let the government be creative.
"Let the tax be used to create jobs for Kenyans here,” another applicant added.
3,247 applicants for Qatar jobs were successful in the first phase of the recruitment drive conducted in Nairobi a few weeks ago. Although the exercise is set to run across all 47 counties in Kenya, the first phase will be done in 31 counties.
Govt Announces Mandatory Training for Kenyans Seeking Qatar Jobs
- by Christine Opanda on Friday, 29 November 2024
All Kenyans who successfully applied for Qatar jobs have been directed to present themselves at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) for compulsory departure training on Saturday, November 30.
In a statement on Friday, November 29, the Labour Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Mutua directed that only candidates who have signed the offer letters are the ones who should attend the training.
Kenyan nurses sent by the government to take up jobs in Saudi Arabia have meanwhile shared some of the harrowing experiences they are facing at work.
In a series of messages shared by journalist Larry Madowo on his official X account on Friday, 29 November, the nurses detailed the various hardships they are enduring, accusing the Kenyan government of ignoring their pleas.
The nurses explained that they travelled to Saudi Arabia under a government initiative for caregivers and Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), hoping for well-paying jobs with favourable working conditions.
However, just months into their employment, the nurses are expressing frustration with the company, citing unfulfilled promises and mistreatment.
The employees claimed that they are not given off days and are expected to work continuously unless they have an emergent medical condition.
“Please be informed that, following a meeting held on 27 November, it has been decided that all employees will no longer have scheduled days off. Kindly ensure this information is disseminated and that the new directive is complied with,” read part of a notice to employees, as shared by Larry Madowo.
Additionally, the nurses alleged that they are working under slavery-like conditions, characterized by rampant racism, no days off, and other labour law violations.
According to the employees, their attempts to seek assistance from the government have been futile, with supervisors instructing those with complaints to resign.
"It’s important to understand that I am a supervisor, not the owner or the manager of the company. We have made efforts to address your concerns, but unfortunately, no significant changes have resulted.
“If you find the way we manage things intolerable, you have the right to resign. If you are dissatisfied with your current situation, please send an email to raise your concerns,” read a notice from a supervisor, as shared by Larry Madowo.
Reacting to the allegations and speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu revealed that the Ministry has yet to receive any complaints of distress from the nurses in Saudi Arabia.
“We haven’t received any reports of distress from nurses working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the PS’s statement read in part.
The PS however directed any employees facing challenges to report to the Embassy in Riyadh, or the State Department for Diaspora Affairs for assistance.
She maintained that the Ministry is focused on championing the rights and welfare of the nurses abroad terming it as a critical part of its mandate.
“We stand ready to support these citizens. However, we do need them to report these issues to us for action,” the PS continued.
Early January, the Ministry of Labour invited applicants to apply for 2,500 open jobs in the health sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
This is after the government had settled on Fast Reliable Enterprises and Nasmama Services Limited to oversee the recruitment of nurses to Saudi Arabia.
In October, the CS revealed that only 20 per cent of the 20,000 Kenyans who turned up for the interviews were successful. Kenyans turned up in large numbers despite the fact that only 3,000 positions were available to be filled.
The Kenyans will be traveling to Qatar for plumbing, masonry, electrical jobs, and more.
To ensure accessibility, the government is collaborating with stakeholders such as the National Employment Authority (NEA), the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), and licensed recruitment agencies. Recruitment will take place at county headquarters and TVET institutions.
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