The Employment (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was one of five parliamentary bills signed into law by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday, April 5.
The bill was sponsored by Nominated MP Gideon Keter. It has been roundly welcomed by job-seekers as it eases the job search process.
Unlike at the moment where employers require prospective employees to submit clearance certificates from bodies including the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), Credit Reference Bureaus (CRBs) and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) as part of the application process, employers will only be able to request for the documents after making a job offer.
Charges levied for application for these certificates means that it often costs job seekers in unfruitful job searches.
“In respect to recruitment, an employer shall not require an employee for a contract of service to submit any clearance certificates for which payment is required unless such employer intends to enter into a written contract of service with the employee,” the law reads in part.
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The Bills were presented to the President for signature by Solicitor General Kennedy Ogeto at a brief ceremony attended by Treasury CS Ukur Yatani, Attorney General Paul Kihara and Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi.
Also present were Leader of Majority in the National Assembly Amos Kimunya, Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee in the National Assembly Kanini Kega and Clerk of the National Assembly Michael Sialai.
“On its part, the new Employment (Amendment) Act gives reprieve to job seekers by requiring employers to only ask for clearance or compliance certificates “upon granting an offer of employment to a prospective employee.” Previously, prospective employees were required to avail such documentation during job application,” a statement from the Office of the President read in part.
Keter who sponsored the bill welcomed the culmination of the process.
“It is now finished, l have delivered as you asked. The law that had red tape and creating unnecessary stumbling blocks while seeking job opportunity is cured,” he wrote.
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