ILO Regional Director’s Mission to Kenya Reviews Employment, Skills, and Labour Migration Priorities

From 8 - 10 September 2025, the International Labour Organization’s Regional Director for Africa, Ms. Fanfan Rwanyindo, undertook an official mission to Kenya to engage with government counterparts, employers’ and workers’ organizations, development partners, and ILO programme teams. The mission focused on reviewing national employment priorities, labour migration governance, skills development, and the implementation of ongoing ILO programmes, including the Better Regional Migration Management (BRMM) Programme.

A central feature of her visit was her participation in the Africa Employers’ Summit 2025 and the Business Africa 40th anniversary celebrations, held in Nairobi. The Regional Director took part in the opening and closing sessions alongside senior government officials, employers’ representatives, and social partners from across the continent. Summit discussions centred on job creation, youth employability, skills development, formalization of work, digital transformation, and social justice. Employers’ organizations adopted resolutions calling for stronger social dialogue, enabling business environments, , and policies that balance productivity with worker protection.

On the margins of the Summit, the Regional Director held bilateral meetings with key national institutions. Engagements with the National Industrial Training Authority highlighted Kenya’s progress in strengthening apprenticeship systems, recognition of prior learning, and dual training models that combine classroom instruction with workplace experience. Discussions also covered pre-departure training for migrant workers, skills certification, and the importance of skills development in supporting safe labour mobility. BRMM-supported areas, including the inclusion of persons with disabilities in labour migration initiatives and the need for skills needs assessments, were noted.

The mission further included engagements with workers’ organizations, notably the Central Organization of Trade Unions (Kenya). Discussions addressed emerging labour market challenges, such as the gig economy, social protection reforms, and ongoing efforts toward ratification of international labour conventions. The important role of trade unions in labour migration governance and the protection of migrant workers was highlighted, including their involvement with Migrant Resource Centres supported through ILO programmes, including BRMM.

A site visit to the National Employment Authority’s Model Job Centre in Thika provided practical insight into Kenya’s employment services. The Regional Director toured the facility and reviewed the NEA’s strategic direction, online job-matching platform, and mobile application supporting both domestic employment and labour migration services. Discussions explored opportunities for interoperability with labour migration information systems and expansion of Migrant Resource Centres to additional counties, with BRMM identified as a key programme supporting these linkages.

The mission also included courtesy meetings with the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection and the United Nations Resident Coordinator. These discussions focused on national employment reforms, labour mobility policy review, social dialogue, and strengthening data systems for employment and migration. The Ministry highlighted priority areas requiring continued ILO technical support, including labour law reform, institutional capacity building, and stakeholder engagement on international labour standards relevant to migrant workers.

Throughout the visit, the Regional Director also engaged with ILO staff in Kenya to review programme performance, enhance coordination across portfolios, and reinforce accountability and efficiency. BRMM was recognized as an integral part of the broader ILO engagement supporting labour migration governance, skills development, and protection of migrant workers within Kenya’s employment agenda.