Principal Secretary for Diaspora Affairs Roseline Njogu has stated that the labour mobility agreement between Kenya and Germany will help strengthen the relationship between the people of the two countries.
This agreement, finalized on September 13, 2024, in Berlin by President William Ruto and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, aims to strengthen connections between the two nations and foster mutual understanding. Unlike previous quota-based labour agreements, this new framework focuses on matching Kenyan talents to specific German labour market requirements. Kenya, with its large, well-trained, and enterprising workforce, is poised to make substantial contributions to the global labour market through this initiative.
The agreement encompasses various aspects of labour mobility, including apprenticeship, student training, employment and worker welfare as well as provisions for readmission and return. It creates a dynamic framework for immigration by aligning the skills of Kenyan professionals with the needs of German employers. Germany has agreed to ease some of its immigration laws, opening doors for skilled and semi-skilled Kenyan workers in a controlled and targeted labour migration arrangement. This strategic move addresses significant challenges in Germany’s labour market where shortages of skilled workers persist across various sectors.
Simultaneously, it provides Kenyan professionals with valuable opportunities to work and gain experience in Europe’s largest economy. The agreement also includes measures to ensure effective and humane management of the migration process. For Kenya, this agreement represents an opportunity to leverage its substantial diaspora population, estimated at around four million, to boost economic development. It aims to provide Kenyan workers with enhanced opportunities abroad while safeguarding their rights and welfare. Additionally, the agreement includes provisions to combat forced labour and human trafficking, addressing key concerns in international labour migration.
The signing ceremony in Berlin was attended by high-ranking officials from both countries. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser emphasized the importance of this agreement in fostering closer cooperation on migration issues between Kenya and Germany. This Labour Mobility Agreement is part of Germany’s broader strategy to attract skilled labour from outside the European Union to fill critical workforce gaps. For Kenya, it represents a step towards more strategic management of its diaspora and labour resources.
