Kenya and Canada explore areas of cooperation in the labour mobility market

Kenya is exploring possible areas of cooperation in the labour mobility market  and enhancement of skills with Canada,a move that,if successful, will see Kenya send skilled workers to Canada under the Kenyan government’s Kazi Majuu programme.

Labor and Skills Development Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime led a government team in hosting a delegation of senior officials from Canada for a high-level meeting on labor mobility cooperation between the Government of Kenya and the provincial Government of New Brunswick, Canada.

The PS  said   that the meeting provided an important platform to advance discussions on mutually beneficial collaboration in Skills Development, labor mobility, and migration governance, particularly in the health, education, and construction sectors.

The meeting, held at the NSSF building, marked a significant step in strengthening Kenya’s international labor mobility partnerships and expanding employment pathways for Kenyan workers in the Provincial Government of Brunswick.

During their visit, the team also discussed on  other key areas of priority for cooperation with the Provincial Government of New Brunswick that include Strengthening mechanisms on skills recognition and certification mechanisms, enhancing labor market information systems and Strengthening Protection and Welfare of Migrant Workers

The Canadian leader of delegation  said  Kenya should be able to capitalize on job opportunities  available in  Canada, noting that the Government-to-Government dialogue will ensure that any future deployment happens under clear guidelines, ethical recruitment standards, and strong worker protection mechanisms

The Kenyan delegation included principal secretaries Dr Ouma Oluga, for Medical Services; Mary Muthoni Muriuki, for Public Health and Professional Standards; Dr Esther Muoria, for Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET); and the Chair, Departmental Committee on Labour, National Assembly, also Kilifi South MP Ken Chonga.

The Provincial Government of New Brunswick delegation was led by the Deputy Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, Mr. Daniel Mills, accompanied by Dany Couillard, Assistant Deputy Minister for Immigration.

The team’s visit was reciprocal, following a recent mission to Canada  led by PS Mwadime in September, which sought to open up the Canadian labor market to Kenyans.