Kenya Reaffirms Commitment to Job Creation and Decent Work at ILO Conference
Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment to placing job creation and decent work at the heart of its development agenda.
Speaking during the ongoing International Labour Organization (ILO) Conference in Geneva, Principal Secretary for Labour Shadrack Mwadime outlined the government’s integrated approach to employment, aligned with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Mwadime highlighted Kenya’s deliberate efforts to stimulate job opportunities across sectors, including infrastructure investment, targeted incentives for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and enhanced access to credit through the Hustler Fund.
In response to the ILO Director-General’s report, themed “Jobs, Rights and Growth: Reinforcing the Connection,” the PS noted that the report reflects the aspirations of the Kenyan government to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth anchored on productive employment and social justice.
He further reported that Kenya is accelerating the domestication of ratified ILO conventions, with recent amendments to the Employment Act, Labour Institutions Act, and Occupational Safety and Health Act aligning national legislation with global labour standards and emerging decent work priorities.
Recognizing climate change as a pressing labour market issue, Mwadime said Kenya is prioritizing green jobs through the Green Economy Strategy and Implementation Plan (GESIP), which promotes a circular economy and equips workers with skills for a just transition.
Kenya’s Labour Inspection and Compliance Framework has also been revamped through digitization and capacity-building efforts, resulting in improved oversight and compliance, especially in occupational health and safety, social security registration, and child labour elimination.
Commending the ILO, Mwadime lauded the organization’s consistent emphasis on decent work despite global challenges such as inequality, economic uncertainty, and climate disruptions, calling it a beacon for labour advancement worldwide.
