The government has developed an electronic system that will license recruitment agencies and vet migrant workers in a bid to eliminate middlemen who traffic Ugandans who end up being sold into slavery. It will also help to get rid of illegal foreign workers in Uganda.
Officials from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development say they are working countries like Saudi Arabia and Jordan to ensure that Ugandans are not exploited in foreign countries, particularly the Middle East.
Mr. Pius Bigirimana, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, said the online platform will be interlinked with other national data systems to trace applicants’ biodata, employment history, and other personal information.
He said the technology will also be rolled to all other countries with which Uganda has bilateral labor agreements.
“With regard to Saudi Arabia, an online system for recruiting, vetting contracts and monitoring of workers deployed was launched on 12th October 2017. This system facilitates traceability of any worker who is deployed in Saudi Arabia,” he said on Tuesday.
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He added that a monitoring office has also been established by the Saudi government based in Jeddah to ensure that recruitment agencies comply with the best labor practices.
The government has said domestic workers will only be allowed to work in Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Mr. Bigirimana said both Saudi Arabia and Jordan have accepted to submit quarterly reports on the Ugandan workers in their respective countries.
He advised recruitment agencies and domestic workers not to venture into the Oman Republic, saying Uganda government doesn’t have any bilateral agreement with the country. he said those who go will do so at their own risks.
“Draft agreements have been drawn and presented to the governments of United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Oman for consideration which they have not signed.”
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