President William Ruto signed a bilateral labor mobility agreement on Friday, September 13, 2024, which will enable over 250,000 Kenyans to travel to Germany, Europe’s largest economy. The deal aims to address Germany’s skilled labor shortage and Kenya’s high unemployment rates. Here are some key points of the agreement:
Benefits
The labor mobility pact will facilitate the placement of Kenyan talent in Germany, helping to fill labor gaps and address shortages. It will support the movement of skilled workers, apprentices, and students for training, vocational education, and employment, including seasonal work.
The deal will also establish cooperation on fair and ethical recruitment practices and create a framework to combat labor exploitation, human trafficking, and irregular migration.
Student and Apprentice Benefits
Germany will issue long-stay visas for eligible Kenyans for studies or vocational training. After the long-stay visa expires, Kenyans may be granted a temporary residence permit for up to two years for study purposes, with possible extensions if the study objectives are not yet met but are achievable within a reasonable timeframe.
Additionally, a temporary residence permit for vocational training may be issued if the legal requirements are fulfilled. Both governments will promote opportunities for employment after the completion of academic or vocational training. Students or apprentices from Kenya who finish their training in Germany and wish to gain initial professional experience there can do so within the framework of applicable German laws.
skilled Workers
The agreement specifies that both governments will support and facilitate the immigration of skilled workers to Germany, provided their qualifications are recognized in the country. Germany will not require a job market test for employing skilled workers and will assess whether applicants meet the requirements to enter Germany for work or residency.
Furthermore, Germany will consider extending temporary residence permits for skilled workers with approved jobs and will promote the legal immigration of IT specialists, even without formal qualifications.
While the deal opens opportunities for thousands of Kenyans, it also outlines provisions for the deportation of those who do not meet the eligibility criteria. Germany anticipates that the agreement will help address labor shortages, promote legal migration, and enhance skills cooperation between the two nations.
Implementation Timeline
Currently, five Kenyan drivers are participating in a pilot program in Germany as part of the deal.
The agreement will officially come into force after further consultations with the German government. “The agreement will enter into force once both parties have notified each other through diplomatic channels that their respective national requirements for the agreement’s entry into force have been fulfilled,” stated Roseline Njogu, Principal Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
