Australia and Kenya Firms Reach Agreement On Exporting Labour To Australia

By Samuel Ouma

Hunter and Co., an Australian consulting firm, has teamed with Somo Serve, a Kenyan human resource management company, to find opportunities for exporting Kenyan labour to Australia.

The Hunter and Co. founder, Andrew Hunter, and the Managing Director of Somo Serve, Dr. Sarah Kilemi, signed the deal.

According to Hunter, the newly elected Australian government has stated a desire to engage meaningfully with African countries and has appointed an Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs with special duties for the continent for the first time.

"Hunter & Co. firm is run by a team of industry experts and experienced principals, well networked in Australia and the African Continent. Hunter and Co. Consultancy team works with leaders from government, the private sector, academia, civil society, and private foundations who share the goal of fostering and sustaining productive relationships in Africa.

"We establish demand and share opportunities Australian businesses seeking partnership and opportunities in Africa, and work with firms from the African Continent looking to Australia as a potential export market," Said Hunter.

Mr. Hunter reiterated that his firm recently hosted Rwanda Development Board, which attended two tourism trade events in Melbourne and Sydney, attracting around 100 agents and wholesalers.

"Over four days, the delegation met with 91 tourism agents, 110 senior business executives, conducted an investment seminar, two roundtables, three site visits, six bilateral meetings – and found the time for five interviews, with Tracey Holmes, Andrew Tillett, Lisa Allen, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Adelaide," he said.

On her part, Dr. Sarah Kilemi said many Kenyans possess the qualifications, experience, and skills required in other countries, but they need more connections to access such opportunities. She noted that the partnership between the two companies will help open job opportunities, especially for young people in the country struggling with unemployment.

She stated that the current unemployment situation will be reduced if Kenyan embassies in various countries are serious about establishing bilateral agreements on labour export.

"This will help us fight poverty which is threatening to wipe out an entire generation. The labour market in Australia is huge and Hunter and Co. Consultancy firm will help us because it has strong connection with the government and private sector in Australia," she stated.

Dr. Kilemi stated that there are numerous opportunities in Australia for truck vehicle mechanical engineers, health workers, and mining engineers, and her firm is currently conducting a feasibility study to learn more about the skills and qualifications attained by graduates of Taita Taveta University, a local university, which offers mining courses.

"We work closely with reputable employers both locally and internationally, matching the skills of Kenyan workers with employment opportunities across various industries, such as construction, hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing, mining, education, seafarers and more," she added.

The pact comes amid Australia's labour shortage, with the country planning to import workers from other countries.