Immigration Policy Kenya Locks Out Young and Low-Paid Foreign Workers Adapted from the Business Daily. Kenya shut the door on foreigners seeking permits for jobs that pay less than Sh2 million per year. The move marks a major change in the labour market policy. It also bars foreigners aged 35 years or less from being issued with work permits. The changes were contained in new regulations issued by former Immigration minister Otieno Kajwang’ now Homabay Senator in a special Kenya Gazette notice. They were targeted at foreigners holding jobs that can be handled by Kenyans.They also effectively locked out expatriates from employment in the medical, real estate, engineering, accountancy and legal professions.Expatriates wishing to practice in these professions can only gain entry as investors with green shoe operations or through joint ventures with locals but on condition that they have the required professional qualifications.Green shoe operations refer to businesses that start from scratch. If strictly applied, the regulations could particularly affect hundreds of Chinese working on Kenyan roads and who are known to earn much less than the threshold of Sh2 million per year.But is this happening? United Nations agencies, embassies and local subsidiaries of multinationals such as East African Breweries, Nestle, Bharti Airtel and Safaricom, are the leading private employers of foreigners. Expatriates working for foreign-owned firms usually hold senior positions such as executives or directors earning more than local staff in similar positions, partly due to higher allowances. If this was to be enforced you can Imagine how many jobs will ba available for locals.Over to you Cabinet Secretary. Business Daily Africa
Posted on: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:15:49 +0000