Kenya secures 2,500 healthcare jobs in Saudi Arabia

KENYA—The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection  has asked Kenyans to apply for 2,500 unfilled positions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s health sector.

This statement follows President William Ruto’s foreign tours, which have continued to bear fruit, with several countries now declaring opportunities for Kenyan youths in various areas.

The government revealed that it is partnered with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to improve safe, regular, and productive labour mobility between the two nations.

According to Labor Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime, general nurses, personal assistants, and healthcare assistant professionals are needed to fill the vacancies.

This initiative aims to assist in the hiring of thousands of Kenyans in various economic sectors in the KSA as well as recruiting additional Kenyan health care workers through various organizations in the KSA.

This latest action comes at a time when President Ruto is under fire from the opposition for his excursions outside the nation, which the opposition claims have not benefited the country.

In his defence, he argued that his recent trip to Saudi Arabia resulted in the signing of a bilateral agreement, which resulted in job opportunities for Kenyans.

Following this bilateral agreement, interested female applicants must have a bachelor’s degree, diploma, or certificate in nursing, a valid police clearance certificate, and be between the ages of 22 and 35, according to the notice.

Degree holders must have at least two years of continuous service, whereas diploma holders must be recent graduates with no experience.

Certificate holders, on the other hand, must have a minimum of one year of continuous service experience.

Applicants must also be medically fit and have a strong command of the English language, both verbal and written.

Prometric test results and a data flow verification report for the education certificate, nursing council license, or most recent job certificate are also required.

This two-year renewable contract asserts that those chosen will work eight hours every day, get a round-trip flight ticket, and be paid overtime in accordance with the country’s labor rules.

Degree holders are paid 3,500 Saudi Arabian Riyal (SAR) (US$933.3), diploma holders are paid 3,000 SAR (US$800), and certificate holders are paid 2,200 SAR (US$586.6).

Those interested must therefore register and apply through the National Employment Authority webpage.

Hussein Mohamed, a spokesman for the State House, stated that these opportunities are the product of Ruto’s efforts to interact with international partners and negotiate frameworks to connect Kenyans with employment opportunities.

He went on to say that the President is committed to promoting Kenya as an investment, manufacturing, commerce, and tourism destination, positioning it as a competitive source of professional, skilled, and semi-skilled labor.

He also stated that new chances have opened up as a result of bilateral labor accords, with a total of 250,000 jobs available in Germany, 30,000 in Israel, and 3,000, largely in agriculture, expected to be announced by March.

Furthermore, around 20,000 construction and service jobs are available in Serbia, with an additional 10,000 available in Russia.