The Labour Ministry of Kenya is inviting qualified Kenyan Nursing and Midwifery professionals to express their interest in employment opportunities in Saudi Arabia.
This was announced through a statement issued by the Ministry of Labour Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore on June 11.
“The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection requests for expression of interest from qualified Kenyans for employment in Saudi Arabia as Nursing and Midwifery professionals,” reads the statement.
According to CS Bore, selected nurses will receive a monthly salary of Saudi Riyal 4700. This is equivalent to approximately Kshs180,500 based on current exchange rates.
In addition to the salary, the nurses will be provided with round-trip air tickets, 35 days of paid vacation, housing, meals, insurance, and transportation. Overtime pay will also be given in accordance with Saudi Arabia’s labor laws. The nurses will also be expected to work 48 hours per week.
Applicants must however meet several requirements, including being a Kenyan citizen. They would also need to possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing Sciences or Midwifery. In addition they need to be registered and licensed members of the Nursing Council of Kenya.
The applicants should also possess a valid Police Clearance certificate. They will be required to have a minimum of two years of nursing or midwifery experience in a hospital setting, or relevant post-registration experience. Other requirements include proficiency in English, good physical health, and a valid Kenyan passport.
The Ministry has invited interested applicants to register as jobseekers through the National Employment Authority (NEA) website at neaims.go.ke. More information about the employment opportunities can be found on the websites labor.go.ke, or nea.go.ke/web.
The contract offered to successful applicants will be for one year, with the possibility of renewal.
The Kenya Kwanza has previously promised to tackle the issue of modern-day slavery in the middle East. This is after a rise in complaints in the number of mistreated Kenyan migrant domestic workers working in Saudi Arabia. Foreign Affairs CS Alfred Mutua was forced to fly to Saudi Arabia in 2022 to address this issue.
“It is clear that the problems facing some of our people start back home in Kenya. The system is flawed and corrupt and unless it’s fixed, nothing will change. There is massive corruption in the way Kenyans are prepared before they leave to be domestic workers in Saudi Arabia and follow up of Kenyans when they arrive,” Mutua stated then.
Kenyans will be hoping the new system will address loopholes that agents exploit when exporting labor to the Gulf State.
