Human Resource professionals to seek licences before practising

By LUKE ANAMI

KENYA: All Human Resource practitioners in Kenya must now be registered. This follows the coming into effect of the Human Resource Management Professionals Act 2012.

The move is expected to professionalise the HR profession and reduce the number of quacks in the system. The newly elected Governing Council Chairman, Paul Kasimu, said the first major priority for his office is the registration of all practicing HR professionals.

They include managers, HR officers and directors to form a register that will be accessed by all Kenyans.

 “The agenda for the Council over the next year will be to operationalise The Human Resource Management Professionals Act by putting in place structures, systems and other procedures for registration of members and issuing practising certificates,” said Mr Kasimu, who is also the Director of HR at East African Breweries Ltd.

“Immediately thereafter, the Institute will be required to register HR professionals and create a national register of HR professionals for access to the public. Every HR professional will be expected by law to register with the Institute.”

The Act received the President’s assent on December 31, 2012. The action was a milestone in the development of the practice in the Kenyan workplace. It governs the entry and conduct of professionals in the human resource management.

“A key requirement for any profession is the existence of standards. The Institute will proactively engage with institutions of higher learning to drive relevance and review excellence in their HR curricula in line with market needs,” he said.

Examinations Board

One of the major roles of the Act is to ensure standard examination process for HR professionals.

“Members have participated in the curriculum development process through technical committees. We are in the process of establishing the Examinations Board independent of the Institute. We intend to mount awareness campaigns of the HR professional examinations.”

He cautioned employers who employ non-qualified staff as HR managers, saying the earlier they complied with the new law the better.

“It will be to their advantage to comply with the new law to mitigate legal suits. The awareness campaigns will go to both HR practitioners and employers.” Other than registration, the first priority for the Governing Council is to put in place the two statutory committees of the Institute, namely the Registration Committee and the Disciplinary Committee.

Under the Act, the Institute of Human Resource Management is required to register HR professionals and maintain high governance standards within the profession.

 A Registration Committee will be established to receive applications for registration and grant practising certificates. “It will also be critical to proactively engage with HR practitioners, employers and other stakeholders to ensure awareness and compliance with the Act,” Kasimu explained.

“It will be key that all organisations fully understand the implication of the Act on their business operation.” Following the elections held early this month, Kasimu was elected chairman.

Other elected officials include Elijah Stimah, Emily Kamunde-Osoro, Dorcas Wainaina, Elizabeth Weya, Sophie Mbui and Amani Yuda Komora of Kenya Ports Authority.  The new HR Governing Council will among other monthly meetings with members to update them on the provisions of the Act.

 “We will also seek their support to enable us establish the necessary structures, processes and procedures required to fully operationalise the new legislation,” said Kasimu.