Over 36,000 Kenyans lost their jobs due to COVID-19

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More than 36,000 Kenyans lost their jobs both in the formal and informal sector amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Labour and Social Services said, noting that the figure could be higher since most people who lost their employment failed to report the loss.

The ministry revealed in a report tabled to the National Assembly Committee on Labour and Social Welfare that 36,163 has reported job losses due to the pandemic which was first reported in Kenya in March.

According to the report seen by nation.africa, 3,022 people in the manufacturing industry have lost their jobs while the agriculture industry has sent home 2,965 people.

A total of 3,991 workers in the agriculture sector, 1,920 in hospitality and 2,071 in horticulture and floriculture are on unpaid leave.

Labour Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui noted that the pandemic had also not spared Kenyans working abroad.

He said 4,105 migrant workers in 34 countries, who have been in distress due to the effects of COVID-19, had been brought back home.

By Sunday, Kenya had reported a total of 38,115 COVID-19 infections and 791 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

The East African country is one of only nine countries in Africa to have registered more than 30,000 cases.