Unionists raise red flag over sea jobs scams

Unregistered agencies are taking over the recruitment of Kenyans seeking jobs aboard  international ships, sparking concerns of poor pay and working conditions.

Unionists have warned that the situation threatens the integrity of Kenya’s seafaring industry and could affect thousands of Kenyans seeking jobs.

It has also emerged that out of 13 manning and crewing agents licensed to recruit Kenyans, only six have verifiable agreements with shipping lines as principals, compounding the problem.

“This glaring disparity raises serious questions about regulatory enforcement and the true value these agencies provide to Kenya’s maritime sector,” said Andrew Mwangura.

Mwangura, a former General Secretary of the Seafarers Union of Kenya (SUK) recalled the 2001 scam where unscrupulous agents conned Kenyans seeking jobs on ships.

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“Thousands of Kenyans desperate for employment opportunities paid substantial application fees and “processing charges” for positions that never existed,” he said.

Mwangura says Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) must urgently address the problem through a comprehensive audit of all licensed manning agents. He said agencies unable to demonstrate legitimate principal agreements should have their licenses immediately suspended.

“We must establish a transparent public database of verified manning agents, complete with information about their principal agreements and placement records, which would empower seafarers to make informed decisions,” he said.

Steve Owaki, a former SUK Secretary General, said KMA should come up with a watertight monitoring system to enforce compliance.

“There should be periodic verification exercises with physical visits to offices of all those agencies licensed to recruit seafarers,” he said.

Owaki said KMA should ensure Kenyan seafarers enjoy the same benefits as others who work on ocean-going vessels worldwide and not allow rogue agents to take advantage of them.