NAIROBI, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Kenya is seeking to sign more labor export agreements with Middle East countries to ensure safety of its citizens, an official said Thursday.
National Employment Authority (NEA) Acting Director General Rael Rotich told a media briefing that the countries targeted are those with a huge Kenyan diaspora.
"We are currently working on bilateral labor agreements with the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Lebanon, Oman and Jordan," Rotich said.
The East African nation has already signed agreements with Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Rotich said that the laws are demand-driven and so the country is open to signing additional pacts.
She noted that in order to safeguard the safety of Kenyans, only licensed agents are permitted to send workers overseas.
"In addition, all labor contracts must be attested by the ministry of labor to ensure they meet minimum standards," she added.
Nancy Karigithu, Principal Secretary in the State Department for Maritime and Shipping, said the Kenyan government has stepped up efforts to crack down on illegal recruitment and placement of seafarers from Kenya.
Karigithu said that Kenyans serving on local or foreign ships must be engaged and discharged through the office of the Registrar of Seafarers.
"We want to guarantee the welfare of the seafarer while outside the jurisdiction of the Kenyan maritime administration," Karigithu said.
