Ministry of Foreign Affairs Warns Of Rising Distress Among Migrant Workers In Gulf States
Uganda Warns Of Rising Distress Among Migrant Workers In Gulf States
Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned that the growing number of Ugandans seeking employment overseas is putting increasing pressure on the country’s diplomatic missions particularly in the Gulf region.
Permanent Secretary Vincent Bagiire told Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs chaired by Grace Kwiyucwiny that labour externalisation had contributed to a rise in cases requiring consular intervention, repatriation and welfare assistance.
He said the government needed a coordinated approach involving several ministries to address the problems faced by Ugandan migrant workers and strengthen efforts to prevent human trafficking.
Uganda has increasingly relied on overseas employment as a source of jobs and income, with thousands of workers travelling to countries in the Middle East and elsewhere through recruitment agencies.
The government has promoted labour externalisation as a way of creating employment opportunities for Ugandans, particularly young people struggling to find jobs at home.
Money sent home by Ugandans working abroad is also an important source of foreign exchange and household income.
But the expansion of overseas recruitment has brought concerns about exploitation, trafficking, unpaid wages and abuse.
Ugandan workers have frequently travelled to countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, with domestic work and other low-skilled occupations accounting for a significant proportion of placements.
Gulf has become one of the most important destinations for Ugandan migrant workers.
But diplomats and rights organisations have repeatedly raised concerns about the vulnerability of some migrant workers, particularly domestic workers who may live inside employers’ homes and have limited access to outside support.
Some workers have reported allegations of physical abuse, excessive working hours, withholding of wages, confiscation of passports and restrictions on movement.
The risks can be particularly serious for workers who arrive through unlicensed recruiters or who do not fully understand the terms of their employment contracts.
The International Labour Organization has warned that migrant domestic workers can face heightened risks of exploitation because of the isolated nature of their work and gaps in labour protection.
Bagiire told MPs that the government needed several ministries and agencies to work together to tackle the problems.
He called for increased public awareness campaigns aimed at people considering employment abroad.
The focus would include warning potential migrants about fraudulent recruitment agents, trafficking networks and the dangers of travelling without proper documentation or employment contracts.
Human trafficking is a particular concern because traffickers can exploit people’s desire for jobs by promising lucrative employment before subjecting victims to forced labour or other forms of exploitation.
Uganda has strengthened its legal and institutional framework against trafficking, including through the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act 2009.
However, enforcement remains a challenge.
When migrant workers become stranded, abused or seriously ill abroad, the government may have to intervene through its diplomatic missions.
In some cases, workers require emergency travel documents, temporary accommodation, medical assistance or financial support before they can return home.
Repatriation can be particularly complicated when an employee has an unresolved dispute with an employer or recruitment agency.
The government has therefore increasingly emphasised the need for Ugandans to verify recruitment companies before travelling.
The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development regulates external labour recruitment and maintains a system for licensing companies that recruit Ugandans for jobs abroad.
The government has also warned prospective migrant workers against using unlicensed recruitment agents.
Despite the risks, overseas employment remains economically important for many Ugandan families.
Remittances from Ugandans abroad provide income for households and contribute to the country’s foreign-exchange earnings.
For some workers, going abroad offers an opportunity to earn significantly more than they could at home.
That makes the government’s challenge more complicated: it must protect workers without closing off legitimate opportunities for overseas employment.
The International Labour Organization has similarly stressed that migration for work can benefit both workers and countries of origin when recruitment is fair and employment conditions meet labour standards.
The parliamentary committee’s concern is not simply about the number of Ugandans travelling abroad.
It is about whether government systems are keeping pace with the growing demand for overseas employment.
MPs are expected to scrutinise the role of recruitment agencies, the protection provided by Ugandan diplomatic missions and the measures being taken to identify and prevent trafficking.
They will also be interested in whether workers receive sufficient information about their rights before leaving Uganda.
For the government, greater coordination between the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Labour Ministry, security agencies and other institutions could help identify vulnerable workers earlier and respond more quickly when problems arise.
Uganda’s labour-export programme presents a difficult balance for policymakers.
Overseas jobs can provide much-needed income and employment, but poorly regulated recruitment can leave workers vulnerable to exploitation far from home.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry says rising consular distress cases and repatriation demands are evidence that more needs to be done.
For Ugandans considering employment abroad, the message from authorities is increasingly clear: the opportunity may be real, but so are the risks and proper recruitment, documentation and awareness can make the difference between a legitimate job and exploitation.
