Ministry Of Labour Petitioned Over Ban On External Recruitment To Middle East

Posted by: lukwago J in Uganda news November 9, 2020

Earlier in March, the Ugandan government suspended the externalization of labour to the middle East as part of the fight against COVID-19.

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.

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