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Effectiveness of Labour Recruitment Regulation for the Protection of Human Rights for the Kenyan Migrant Domestic Workers

Received: 22 May 2023     Accepted: 7 June 2023     Published: 21 June 2023
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Abstract

Labour migration is a trend that has gained a lot of traction with the increased relations and interdependence between nations at all levels. In a similar manner, there is an increment in cases of abuse of the basic rights of migrant workers. In extreme cases, abuses amount to trafficking in persons, forced or compulsory labour among other human rights violations that even lead to death continues to be registered amongst migrant workers. As this occurs, loopholes exist in labour laws, failing to address gaps within the responsibilities of recruitment agencies and employers and as such provide space for abuse and forced labour for the migrant workers. Labour mobility remains an integral part of the intercountry cooperation and exchange of goods and services all that are building blocks towards accomplishment of SDGs and the Agenda 2030. Therefore, it is very timely and beneficial to establish gaps in the labour regulation process, such as within the labour legislation, registration, licensing, and monitoring process, identify enforcement challenges, and the government interventions necessary for the labour recruitment in safeguarding the human rights of the migrant workers, especially in a time where Kenyans are migrating a lot for work. Neoclassical economics and the dual labour market (DLM) theories guided this study. Descriptive and inferential research methodologies were used. A target population of 153 people was drawn from the National Employment Authority (NEA), Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs (MFA) and Ministry of Labour (MoL). Key Informant interview guides and self-administered questionnaires were used to collect the research data and analysis done by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The study found out that that there was a positive significant and strong linear relationship between statutory requirements and upholding human rights of Kenyan migrant domestic workers. It was evident that the inter-ministerial and inter organisational coordination is very weak and there is policy incoherence and thus there is inefficiencies in the regulation of labour recruitment process. Additionally, the labour regulation enforcement process remains very important factor in safeguarding and upholding the human rights of Kenyan migrant worker. In conclusion, there is a need for a comprehensive approach that recognizes the rights of all workers and promotes their social and economic empowerment. The study therefore recommended strengthening labour recruitment regulations protection of human rights for the Kenyan migrant domestic workers.

Published in Journal of Public Policy and Administration (Volume 7, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.jppa.20230702.17
Page(s) 88-97
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Human Rights, Immigrant Domestic Workers, Forced Labour, Labour Migration, Recruitment Agencies

References
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[11] Farbenblum, B. (2016). Governance of Migrant Worker Recruitment: A Rights-Based Framework for Countries of Origin. Asian Journal of International Law, 1 (01), 1-33. doi: 10.1017/S2044251316000011.
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  • APA Style

    Grace Njambi Kimani, Weldon Ng’eno. (2023). Effectiveness of Labour Recruitment Regulation for the Protection of Human Rights for the Kenyan Migrant Domestic Workers. Journal of Public Policy and Administration, 7(2), 88-97. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jppa.20230702.17

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    ACS Style

    Grace Njambi Kimani; Weldon Ng’eno. Effectiveness of Labour Recruitment Regulation for the Protection of Human Rights for the Kenyan Migrant Domestic Workers. J. Public Policy Adm. 2023, 7(2), 88-97. doi: 10.11648/j.jppa.20230702.17

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    AMA Style

    Grace Njambi Kimani, Weldon Ng’eno. Effectiveness of Labour Recruitment Regulation for the Protection of Human Rights for the Kenyan Migrant Domestic Workers. J Public Policy Adm. 2023;7(2):88-97. doi: 10.11648/j.jppa.20230702.17

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jppa.20230702.17,
      author = {Grace Njambi Kimani and Weldon Ng’eno},
      title = {Effectiveness of Labour Recruitment Regulation for the Protection of Human Rights for the Kenyan Migrant Domestic Workers},
      journal = {Journal of Public Policy and Administration},
      volume = {7},
      number = {2},
      pages = {88-97},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jppa.20230702.17},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jppa.20230702.17},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jppa.20230702.17},
      abstract = {Labour migration is a trend that has gained a lot of traction with the increased relations and interdependence between nations at all levels. In a similar manner, there is an increment in cases of abuse of the basic rights of migrant workers. In extreme cases, abuses amount to trafficking in persons, forced or compulsory labour among other human rights violations that even lead to death continues to be registered amongst migrant workers. As this occurs, loopholes exist in labour laws, failing to address gaps within the responsibilities of recruitment agencies and employers and as such provide space for abuse and forced labour for the migrant workers. Labour mobility remains an integral part of the intercountry cooperation and exchange of goods and services all that are building blocks towards accomplishment of SDGs and the Agenda 2030. Therefore, it is very timely and beneficial to establish gaps in the labour regulation process, such as within the labour legislation, registration, licensing, and monitoring process, identify enforcement challenges, and the government interventions necessary for the labour recruitment in safeguarding the human rights of the migrant workers, especially in a time where Kenyans are migrating a lot for work. Neoclassical economics and the dual labour market (DLM) theories guided this study. Descriptive and inferential research methodologies were used. A target population of 153 people was drawn from the National Employment Authority (NEA), Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs (MFA) and Ministry of Labour (MoL). Key Informant interview guides and self-administered questionnaires were used to collect the research data and analysis done by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The study found out that that there was a positive significant and strong linear relationship between statutory requirements and upholding human rights of Kenyan migrant domestic workers. It was evident that the inter-ministerial and inter organisational coordination is very weak and there is policy incoherence and thus there is inefficiencies in the regulation of labour recruitment process. Additionally, the labour regulation enforcement process remains very important factor in safeguarding and upholding the human rights of Kenyan migrant worker. In conclusion, there is a need for a comprehensive approach that recognizes the rights of all workers and promotes their social and economic empowerment. The study therefore recommended strengthening labour recruitment regulations protection of human rights for the Kenyan migrant domestic workers.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Effectiveness of Labour Recruitment Regulation for the Protection of Human Rights for the Kenyan Migrant Domestic Workers
    AU  - Grace Njambi Kimani
    AU  - Weldon Ng’eno
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    JF  - Journal of Public Policy and Administration
    JO  - Journal of Public Policy and Administration
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    EP  - 97
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2640-2696
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jppa.20230702.17
    AB  - Labour migration is a trend that has gained a lot of traction with the increased relations and interdependence between nations at all levels. In a similar manner, there is an increment in cases of abuse of the basic rights of migrant workers. In extreme cases, abuses amount to trafficking in persons, forced or compulsory labour among other human rights violations that even lead to death continues to be registered amongst migrant workers. As this occurs, loopholes exist in labour laws, failing to address gaps within the responsibilities of recruitment agencies and employers and as such provide space for abuse and forced labour for the migrant workers. Labour mobility remains an integral part of the intercountry cooperation and exchange of goods and services all that are building blocks towards accomplishment of SDGs and the Agenda 2030. Therefore, it is very timely and beneficial to establish gaps in the labour regulation process, such as within the labour legislation, registration, licensing, and monitoring process, identify enforcement challenges, and the government interventions necessary for the labour recruitment in safeguarding the human rights of the migrant workers, especially in a time where Kenyans are migrating a lot for work. Neoclassical economics and the dual labour market (DLM) theories guided this study. Descriptive and inferential research methodologies were used. A target population of 153 people was drawn from the National Employment Authority (NEA), Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs (MFA) and Ministry of Labour (MoL). Key Informant interview guides and self-administered questionnaires were used to collect the research data and analysis done by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The study found out that that there was a positive significant and strong linear relationship between statutory requirements and upholding human rights of Kenyan migrant domestic workers. It was evident that the inter-ministerial and inter organisational coordination is very weak and there is policy incoherence and thus there is inefficiencies in the regulation of labour recruitment process. Additionally, the labour regulation enforcement process remains very important factor in safeguarding and upholding the human rights of Kenyan migrant worker. In conclusion, there is a need for a comprehensive approach that recognizes the rights of all workers and promotes their social and economic empowerment. The study therefore recommended strengthening labour recruitment regulations protection of human rights for the Kenyan migrant domestic workers.
    VL  - 7
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Public Policy and Administration, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya

  • Department of Public Policy and Administration, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya

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