Nairobi: Stakeholders from the labour and trade sectors have emphasized the necessity for Kenya to adjust its labour policies and workforce capabilities in response to the shifting global trade environment. This call comes amid emerging challenges such as digital trade, artificial intelligence (AI), green investments, and the restructuring of global supply chains.
According to Kenya News Agency, a policy dialogue hosted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in collaboration with Kenya’s Ministries of Labour and Skills Development and Trade highlighted these concerns. Marva Corely-Coulibaly, Chief of the Globalisation, Competitiveness and Labour Standards unit at ILO, stressed the importance of operationalizing labour clauses within trade agreements, which are often signed but not implemented. She outlined five key priority areas for policy making, including inclusive dialogue, skills portability, and youth integration in trade policy, while noting that trade agreements must include the workers who power them.
Corely-Coulibaly also identified informality as a significant barrier to fair labour standards and called for practical approaches to formalizing small enterprises. Concurrently, ILO’s research department representative, Julia Privalikhana, underscored the necessity of embedding labour standards within new trade and investment agreements to protect workers’ rights and enhance competitiveness. She emphasized the importance of regional cooperation to strengthen intra-African trade, citing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a pivotal opportunity.
Bruno Otiato from the Central Organization of Trade Unions (Kenya) urged policymakers to review Kenya’s labour laws, many of which were established in 2007, to reflect modern work realities. He highlighted the need to redefine worker protections in light of gig and digital employment trends. Econews Africa’s Edgar Odari added that the Fourth Industrial Revolution has altered traditional workspaces, necessitating a reevaluation of labour engagement and retraining to keep pace with technological and environmental changes.
Geoffrey Maumo from the Federation of Kenyan Employers echoed these sentiments, advocating for continuous skills upgrading to adapt to technological disruptions. He warned that failure to adapt to AI and other advancements could threaten jobs. Maumo also noted global shifts in trade logistics, emphasizing the need for innovation and retraining to align with these changes.
The forum called for stronger oversight in labour immigration and foreign work permits to protect local employment opportunities. Representatives from Kenya’s Ministries of Labour and Skills Development and Trade, Millicent Muli and Ivy Waigara, called for an urgent review of labour laws and workforce retraining to maintain competitiveness and protect workers’ rights.
Ultimately, there was agreement on the importance of tripartite collaboration between the government, private sector, and workers’ representatives to ensure that Kenya’s labour standards evolve in line with global trade dynamics, securing decent work and promoting sustainable economic growth.
