In an effort to safe guard Ugandans from Human trafficking risks,Uganda government has launched an awareness campaign dubbed “Travel Safe. Stay Safe.”to rally ponteinal trverlers use only legit labour agencies .
Minister of State for Labour, Employment, and Industrial Relations, Hon. Esther Anyakun Davinia (MP) in a media enagagement warned the youth against unnecessarily movements by use of unregulated systems.
“Every day, many of our sons and daughters make the difficult decision to leave their homes in search of employment opportunities beyond our borders. While labour migration can open doors to opportunity, it can also expose our people to serious risks when undertaken without accurate information, proper guidance, and the protection of Government systems,” Anyakun stated.
The Ministry cautioned Ugandans against falling prey to illegal recruiters, travel companies, and individual agents, noting that only licensed companies are authorised to recruit workers for jobs abroad. Ugandans are urged to verify licensed companies and approved job orders through the Ministry’s Employment Externalisation Information Management System (EEMIS) or district labour offices.
Uganda in 2005 introduced the Externalisation of Labour Programme to create safe and formal pathways for Ugandans to work abroad while easing unemployment pressures at home where close to 600,000 to 700,000 youth join the labour market.
To date, 246 recruitment companies have been licensed to formally place Ugandans in jobs abroad, mainly in Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Iraq.
Anyakun reaffirmed government commitment to protecting Ugandans seeking employment abroad by strengthening systems for safe, legal, and dignified labour migration, amid rising numbers of young people entering the job market with limited domestic opportunities,”
“Prospective migrant workers are also advised to travel only on employment visas, sign contracts clearly stating job roles and salaries, keep payment receipts, and avoid paying for domestic worker jobs, which are not supposed to attract recruitment fees,” she stressed.
“Achieving safe, orderly, and decent labour migration is a shared responsibility. Migrant workers come from our families and communities, and their safety and dignity must therefore concern all of us,” she said, urging Ugandans to verify recruitment information and use only approved channels.,”she added.