Business
Kenya sets up new immigration rules to protect local jobs
Kenya has decided to issue fewer work permits to foreign workers in an attempt to boost employment for young Kenyans.
Kenya has shut the door on foreigners seeking permits for jobs that pay less than US$24,000 per year.
The new regulations are particularly targeted at foreigners holding jobs that can be handled by Kenya citizens.
There will also be a cap at the high end of the income scale: foreign medical, accounting, engineering, legal and real-estate professionals are banned from coming to Kenya outright.
Expatriates wishing to practice in these professions can only gain entry as investors with green shoe operations or through joint ventures with local Kenyans on condition that they have the required professional qualifications.
The new policy could particularly affect the flow of low-wage Asian immigrants to Kenya and neighboring countries. At present, Chinese and Indian nationals hold a combined 14,000 Kenyan work permits, and can be seen driving steamrollers, doing janitorial work and managing retail stores far into the hinterlands.
Kenya’s labor market experts said the new rules are needed to preserve jobs for Kenyans as concern rises over the number of expatriates holding basic jobs such as driving and retail sales.
