A Bill that seeks to stop employers from demanding clearance certificates from various government institutions before offering employment was tabled in parliament on Wednesday for the second reading.

The Employment (Amendment) Bill, which is sponsored by Nominated Member of Parliament Gideon Keter, seeks to amend Section 9 of the Employment Act, 2011 in order to reduce costs incurred by the youth while seeking jobs by removing the burden of acquiring clearance certificates such as HELB, KRA (Tax Compliance), CRB, DCI (Good Conduct), and EACC from jobseekers.

Whereas it does not stop potential employers from asking for these documents, the Bill ensures that employers don’t deny youth employment opportunities for failing to present them and may only request for any clearance or compliance certificates only upon granting an offer of employment.

According to Keter, who is also a youth representative, many of the unemployed Kenyans are below 35 years and the cost of acquiring these mandatory clearance certificates is further burdening the jobseekers.

“They are mostly first-time job seekers who are unable to pay for the clearance certificates required by employers, Looking for a job should not be costly” Keter said.

The CRB charges 2,200/- while DCI charges Kshs. 1,050/- for a Certificate of Good Conduct, which is valid for one year from the date of issuance. Whereas the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission does not charge any fees, job seekers incur advocates costs relating to the commissioning of the self-declaration form which is required to be sworn in the presence of a Commissioner for Oaths.