Gov't Reveals 2 Ways Jobseekers Can Avoid Fake Recruitment Agencies

The National Employment Authority (NEA) has urged jobseekers to exercise caution when dealing with companies purporting to be recruitment agencies.

In an update on Monday, September 15, the authority warned Kenyans to verify both recruitment firms and advertised job opportunities before committing their money.

"The National Employment Authority (NEA) continues to advocate for safe, orderly and fair labour mobility and urges job seekers to exercise caution when dealing with companies purporting to be recruitment agencies, such as Nduanny Global Consultancy," the update read.

NEA advised members of the public to take specific precautions before engaging with or committing funds to any recruitment company.

The first step is to establish whether the recruitment agency is officially recognised by the government. 

Jobseekers should confirm that the company facilitating their recruitment is registered with NEA and appears on the National Employment Authority Integrated Management System (NEAIMS) portal.

They should also check that the agency's registration and operating licence remain valid before proceeding with any recruitment process or making payments.

The second precaution involves verifying the job itself.

NEA advised jobseekers to ensure that the advertised position has been officially posted and can be independently verified through the NEAIMS portal.

The authority cautioned members of the public against individuals or companies presenting overseas employment opportunities that cannot be independently verified.

This comes days after UNICEF warned members of the public against fake job offers and recruitment scams targeting people seeking employment opportunities with the United Nations children’s agency.

In a notice on Friday, September 11, the organisation cautioned that scammers may use fraudulent job advertisements or offers to trick unsuspecting applicants into making payments or surrendering personal information.

UNICEF stressed that applicants should be alert to any recruitment communication that requires them to pay money as part of the hiring process.

"UNICEF does not charge fees at any stage of its recruitment process. Verify all vacancies & job offers through official UNICEF channels, including jobs.unicef.org," the notice read.

UNICEF urged job seekers to independently verify vacancies and employment offers through its official recruitment channels before taking any action.

It also warned the public against sharing sensitive personal details with individuals behind suspicious job offers, noting that such information could be exploited by fraudsters.

"Don’t make payments or share personal information in response to suspicious job offers," the notice added.