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A group of women working in the Middle East have petitioned the Minister of Labour, Gender and Social Development on the government’s ban on the export of labour to the Middle East.
The protesters peacefully marched to the Ministry offices in Kampala and asked the government to lift the ban. They said this would help them fight unemployment. It would also help them make ends meet and support their families and dependents.
What their petition carries;
“Hon. Minister, 90% of young ladies that go out to work in majorly Saudi Arabia are single mothers and with little education. Maintaining the ban despite the opening of airports is leaving millions of youths and their dependents vulnerable”. The protesters said in the petition to the Permanent Secretary, Aggrey David Kibenge.
“Human traffickers are also starting to take advantage of the ban. Hundreds of girls are now leaving Uganda illegally to seek employment in the Gulf states. The purpose of this petition is to request your office to intervene in this situation. Issue guidelines to the licensed labour export companies to continue to help us find jobs in the Middle East.”
However, last month(October), the Government said it was reviewing the suspension. It added that it had written to the Health Minister seeking advice on the feasibility of reopening the externalization of labour.
This protest comes as a result of a back and forth negotiations between the labour ministry and UAERA. Labour externalization companies closed in March. This means, even the people who were cleared to travel had their arrangements cancelled due to the ban.
Check also;
- UAERA Orders All External Recruitment Companies In Uganda To Close Business Immediately
- 137 Licensed Private External Recruitment Companies In Uganda -2019
- Should Government Ban External Labour Recruitment And Placement In The Middle East?
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![[dropcap]A[/dropcap] section of women in Bugongo parish and Nawangaiza parish in Nawandala Sub County, Iganga District have decried the near-impossible terms set for them to access GROW funds. They have now petitioned their woman member of parliament for Iganga Hon. Kauma Sauda Alibaawo to ask the government for revised terms and conditions. This is to enable them to benefit from the program. The disgruntled women accuse the implementers of the program of charging the money. They are also asking for their land titles and land agreements. They said that such properties are governed by their husbands. These, therefore want the government through their woman MP to intervene and revise the requirements for one to benefit. The women were on Wednesday at Namabwere primary school in Nawandala Sub County. They had gathered in their respective groups to receive over 300 chickens from Hon Alibaawo in her campaign to improve the livelihood of women in Iganga district. Each group was given 50 chicken as start-up capital in their journey to prosperity. Read what some leaders said; Ms Naigambi Lydia from Nawandala Trading Centre says, “They solicited money from us through opening bank accounts and depositing Shs80,000. They also asked for land titles and land agreements from us yet we don’t have such things. I was informed that I needed to have a business with a capital of Shs4m yet my capital was very small.” The chairperson Kisoboka Saving Group in Nawandala Ms. Nakagolo Faith said they were not able to join the program. This is given the many conditions attached. She also asked their woman MP to raise their concerns to the relevant offices. The MP condemned the mode of implementation of the program. She cited that it has turned to benefit the well-off class of women other than the intended group. She further asked the government to intervene saying the current strings attached to the programme are very tight to accommodate a common woman. GROW project is a Government of Uganda initiative that arose out of the need to respond to the needs of women entrepreneurs. This is especially those who want to grow their businesses, sustain their self-employment and create more jobs. Check Also; Iganga District NRM Leaders Urge Museveni To Fulfill Election Promises Of 2021 International Women's Day: Celebrating Progress Towards Equality](https://i0.wp.com/newslexpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Iganga-women-decry-tough-terms-to-access-GROW-funds-e1731738339732.jpg?resize=300%2C160&ssl=1)
