Migrant workers forced into loans to cater for visas and flight costs

Migrant workers travelling to seek jobs abroad are being forced to take up loans from the Youth Enterprise Development Fund to finance their, flight tickets and documentation, The Star has established.

This is despite the employment letters handed to some of the beneficiaries indicating that employers will foot the bill.

Last year, President William Ruto alluded to the same, saying that travel cost will be covered.

“I have done my work; I have looked for jobs abroad. I have planned that those going for overseas jobs get their passports in one week. They do not even need money for flight tickets, we will pay for flights,” Ruto said during an official tour of Taita Taveta County.

Despite these promises, the Star can authoritatively report that beneficiaries are being asked to apply for Sh170,000 loan from the Youth Enterprise Fund kitty, with details on repayment and interest rate shrouded in mystery.

One of the job seekers who has been handed a job offer by Gardinia Building and Contracting LLC in Dubai is being asked to take a loan to be guaranteed by the employer despite the contract stating that the employer will cater for air ticket, insurance, accommodation and visa processing fees.

The offer letter indicates that the beneficiary for scaffolding position will be paid 1000 AED, approximately Sh35,000 per month for the two-year renewable contract.

“You are forced to fill loan application forms from the Youth Enterprise Fund immediately you are handed an offer letter. You are being sold off to another country with a loan on your shoulder. This is terrible,’’ the young man aged 28 lamented to the Star.

Documents in possession of the Star show that the job seeker, whose name we have withheld on request, took Sh171,350, where Sh60,000 was meant for the air ticket, Sh62,850 for visa and Sh18,500 for attested documents.

A further Sh15,000 is meant for pre-departure training, with the remaining Sh15,000 as pocket money. This trend raises questions about the government’s commitment to supporting Kenyans seeking employment abroad and depicting possible policy inconsistencies.

The situation has sparked concerns over the financial strain placed on individuals who, are already economically disadvantaged and hoping to escape unemployment and poverty through overseas job opportunities.

For many Kenyans, securing jobs in the Middle East represents a crucial economic lifeline.

However, the revelation that these workers are being forced to shoulder costs through state-backed loans undermines the very essence of government intervention aimed at facilitating labor migration.

The contradictory nature of government assurances versus the reality on the ground raises serious concerns about transparency and policy execution.

While promises of lucrative jobs continue to attract hopefuls, the lack of transparency and financial demands cast a shadow over the initiative, leaving many Kenyans wondering if their dreams of working abroad are worth the price.

Kenyans who have been showing up for the assessment exercises have raised concerns over the costs that come with the offer of jobs which includes air tickets, passport and visa applications and medical report certificates.

Kenya has been big on labour exports in recent months with Cabinet wading in on the matter to export Kenyas skilled workforce.

The country has already signed bilateral labour agreements with Germany and Austria. The Ministry of Labour has identified other nations such as Australia, Qatar, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Oman, the UAE, the UK, Kuwait, and Northern Ireland as top destinations for Kenyan workers.

“The government has put a priority on labour export to create millions of job opportunities for our unemployed citizens,” said Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection, Alfred Mutua, during a past media brief.

As part of the broader plan, the Ministry of Labour has organised job recruitment drives in every county over the coming weeks to further open up global employment opportunities for Kenyans.

According to Mutua, the government targets to secure 20,000 jobs in the Middle East, Europe, Canada and Australia.

Qatar remain among the top destinations, with bilateral talks aimed at enhancing employment opportunities for skilled Kenyan workers.

This move is aimed at streamlining the process of sending Kenyan workers to the Gulf state, where an estimated 67,000 Kenyans are already employed.

In addition to the job creation initiatives, a Cabinet dispatch earlier in the year introduced reforms aimed at improving the recruitment and deployment process for Kenyans seeking jobs abroad.

These include a new registration system for employment agencies that now requires a Sh500,000 registration fee, with a two-year renewal period.

The National Employment Authority (NEA) will enforce these new regulations to ensure compliance.

Changes were also introduced to pre-departure training programmes, which now include combined homecare management and orientation, reducing the total training period for domestic workers from 26 days to just 14.