The government has upped its efforts to protect the youth from falling for fake job scams online with a fresh set of measures to curb rogue recruitment agencies.
This follows a concerning trend in recent months that has seen hundreds of desperate Kenyan job seekers fall for scams from agencies under the guise of legitimate businesses.
While speaking during the UDA comrade chapter, Principal Secretary for Labour and Skills Shadrack Mwadime revealed that the government had cracked down on the rogue agencies.
“Initially, there were more than 1,000 recruitment agencies but we discovered a large number of them were rogue private entities that scammed Kenyans,” Mwandime stated.
Labour Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime. PHOTO/Courtesy.
“We’ve conducted a crackdown on these agencies and they’re now down to just 500.”
The agencies tend to lure their victims through the promise of high-paying jobs in economic giants like Australia and Canada but instead of securing employment, these agencies leave their victims counting financial losses and facing possible Visa bans.
A combination of fabricated financial statements and poorly drafted Visa applications from these rogue agencies leave applicants in ruin, with their hopes of securing employment abroad ultimately hitting a wall.
According to the PS, the government has involved security agencies to ensure a rigorous vetting process is conducted to ensure the recruitment agencies are legitimate.
How to avoid getting scammed: The PS further urged individuals looking for employment abroad to access the National Employment Authority (NEA) website and scan the various agencies on the site.
Legitimate agencies appear in black while rogue or suspicious recruitment agencies have been flagged with red fonts.
Jobseekers are also advised to thoroughly engage with recruitment agencies to scrutinise their legitimacy before going forward with an application. One can also consult with established government bodies and seek recommendations to identify reputable agencies.
In addition, all job opportunities must be approved by the Director General of the National Employment Authority.
A photo of Kenyans queuing for a job interview
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