Private Employment Agency representatives from across the East and Horn of Africa have advanced efforts to establish a regional association to strengthen cooperation, professional standards and fair recruitment practices. The three-day meeting, held in Mombasa from 31 August to 2 September, brought participants together to develop the governance and operational foundations of the proposed East and Horn of Africa Regional Private Employment Agencies Association.

Participants examined the proposed association’s institutional structure, membership requirements and governance arrangements, including its constitution, bylaws and Memorandum of Establishment (MoE). Discussions also addressed the different regulatory and operational challenges facing Private Employment Agencies across the region, and explored common approaches to strengthening transparency, accountability and responsible recruitment. A proposed Code of Conduct and priority actions for promoting fair recruitment were considered, alongside practical requirements for the association’s effective functioning, including legal registration, institutional systems, membership compliance, regional partnerships and sustainable financing.

The meeting concluded with the signing of the Memorandum of Establishment (MoE), formalizing the commitment of participating Private Employment Agency associations to regional cooperation and the advancement of fair recruitment. Participants also agreed on steps towards operationalising the association, including the establishment of an Interim Regional Steering Committee. The proposed association provides a platform for Private Employment Agencies to strengthen professional standards and promote recruitment practices that uphold transparency, accountability and respect for workers’ rights across the region. The meeting was organized under the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Better Regional Migration Management (BRMM) programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), with the participation of the Association of Skilled Migrant Agencies of Kenya (ASMAK) and the National Employment Authority (NEA).