By Hanning Mbabazi
Kampala: The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon Jacob Oulanyah in response to remarks of concern raised by Mukono Legislator Hon. Betty Namboze, has tasked the Uganda Association of External Recruitment Agencies (UAERA) to carefully handle the repatriation of workers stranded in foreign countries under uncomfortable working conditions.
During the Thursdayu 01 August plenary, Mr. Oulanyah said labour export agencies that are licensed and operating within the law, subscribe to UAERA through payment of insurance, and should handle repatriation or treatment of workers.
“So there should not be any burden to any parent that their child is stranded somewhere and they are looking for money to repatriate them or that they should refund money before they are brought back,” Oulanyah explained.
Nambooze said that youth who sought employment abroad through labour agencies were stuck and unable to return to Uganda.
She further noted that following the Deputy Speaker’s
directive on 18 July 2019, several girls are stranded at the Uganda embassy in
the United Arab Emirates as they wait for support to return home.
“The ambassador was even captured on video chasing the girls away. It is very
painful that a Ugandan in Dubai is being chased away by their own ambassador,”
said Nambooze.
She observed that there are new cases of Ugandans stranded
abroad and that victims of trafficking by unlicensed recruitment agencies had
increased.
“It is very sad that one of my constituents died in Riyadh last week under
circumstances yet to be established; so we need guidance on how to handle these
new cases,” Nambooze said.
According to the Coordination Office for Prevention of Trafficking in Persons under the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development as of 10 May 2017, there were 66 licensed private recruitment companies.
