clementsanga
Member
- Jul 15, 2013
- 65
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Experts from foreign countries working in Kenya risk losing their licenses unless they adhere to new the policy guidelines set by the NGO regulator recently.
The regulations seek to bar foreigners from undertaking jobs that can be done by Kenyans.
Fazul Mahamed, director of the NGO board, said that they are concerned about expatriates working in the charity sector without valid work permits.
In a circular copied to the directorate of immigration and registration of persons and the ministry of labour, Fazul said the situation contravenes the Kenyan Citizenship and Immigration Act 2012 and provisions of section 17 of the NGO’s Act.
"There are also expatriates within the sector that are holding work permits that have not been obtained in accordance with the two acts," Fazul said.
The circular states that such officials without a valid work permit or whose work permit has expired and is found working for an NGO, shall be sanctioned.
The organisations that they work for shall also be held accountable in line with the provisions of the existing laws.
"The board shall not issue any recommendations unless and until proven that that there are no Kenyans with the skills required available in the job market," the regulator said.
Fazul also noted that a huge salary disparity also exists between Kenyans and foreign staff leading to a trend of career expatriates moving from one organization to another.
“Some expatriates earn four times more than what Kenyan nationals earn for the same job with comparable skills and qualifications. They also get benefits that aren’t available to Kenyan nationals,” Fazul said.
Some of the benefits include; 30 leave days, accommodation allowances, health insurance, and children’s education being paid for by the organization.
These form part of the expatriates’ packages that are not available to the local staff, he said.
Fazul also noted that the board shall only issue recommendations to volunteers whose organizations have demonstrated that equal number of Kenyans have been afforded volunteer opportunities in other countries/organizations.
Source: the-star.co.ke
The regulations seek to bar foreigners from undertaking jobs that can be done by Kenyans.
Fazul Mahamed, director of the NGO board, said that they are concerned about expatriates working in the charity sector without valid work permits.
In a circular copied to the directorate of immigration and registration of persons and the ministry of labour, Fazul said the situation contravenes the Kenyan Citizenship and Immigration Act 2012 and provisions of section 17 of the NGO’s Act.
"There are also expatriates within the sector that are holding work permits that have not been obtained in accordance with the two acts," Fazul said.
The circular states that such officials without a valid work permit or whose work permit has expired and is found working for an NGO, shall be sanctioned.
The organisations that they work for shall also be held accountable in line with the provisions of the existing laws.
"The board shall not issue any recommendations unless and until proven that that there are no Kenyans with the skills required available in the job market," the regulator said.
Fazul also noted that a huge salary disparity also exists between Kenyans and foreign staff leading to a trend of career expatriates moving from one organization to another.
“Some expatriates earn four times more than what Kenyan nationals earn for the same job with comparable skills and qualifications. They also get benefits that aren’t available to Kenyan nationals,” Fazul said.
Some of the benefits include; 30 leave days, accommodation allowances, health insurance, and children’s education being paid for by the organization.
These form part of the expatriates’ packages that are not available to the local staff, he said.
Fazul also noted that the board shall only issue recommendations to volunteers whose organizations have demonstrated that equal number of Kenyans have been afforded volunteer opportunities in other countries/organizations.
Source: the-star.co.ke
