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Qatar’s Ministry of Labour announced on November 3, 2026, that it had revoked the licence of Special Manpower Supply Recruitment Office under Minister of Labour Decision No. 49 of 2026 and that of Riviera Manpower Supply Recruitment Office under Decision No. 48 of 2026. The ministry stated that both decisions were taken in accordance with the Labour Law and regulations governing the recruitment of workers from abroad. A ministry statement emphasised the measures formed part of continued efforts to strengthen compliance and safeguard the rights of all parties involved in recruitment.
Tuko News reported that neither agency maintained a physical office in Kenya. The two offices instead partnered with licensed Kenyan recruitment firms to link Qatari employers with Kenyan domestic workers, an arrangement common in Gulf labour corridors. Kenyan partner agencies must now assess any pending applications and redirect them through compliant channels, the report added.
The ministry’s latest action follows its shutdown of 12 recruitment companies in September 2026 for labour law violations, according to a Qatar Ministry of Labour assessment. Warnings had been issued to agencies the previous month over issues such as delayed refunds of recruitment fees and inaccurate information submitted during licence renewals. Workers and employers have been advised to confirm the licensing status of any agency via the ministry’s official website before proceeding.
Kenya has intensified overseas employment initiatives, with the Kenya News Agency reporting that more than 200,000 Kenyan youths have secured jobs abroad in the past 18 months through bilateral labour agreements that include Qatar. Central Bank of Kenya data places remittances from Kenyans working abroad at approximately USD 4.9 billion, supporting household incomes and national economic growth. A recent nationwide recruitment drive aims to place additional workers, building on the deployment of 3,247 Kenyans to one Qatari employer earlier this year.
Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo stated in September 2026 that more than 80,000 Kenyans reside in Qatar, contributing to economic ties between the two countries. Labour Principal Secretary Engineer Peter Tum noted that approximately 35,000 Kenyans in Qatar and other Middle East destinations helped remittances from the region rise from Sh48 billion to Sh92 billion over the past year. The licence revocations may require Kenyan authorities to advise affected job seekers on alternative verified recruitment routes.
Qatar has updated its recruitment agency framework through Ministerial Decision No. 61 of 2026, which requires financial guarantees of QAR 750,000 and other compliance standards for licence holders, a government regulatory summary showed. The rules apply to agencies involved in overseas worker placement and took effect in late October 2026. Kenyan migrants are reminded to engage only firms licensed by the National Employment Authority and to have contracts authenticated prior to departure.
