By Andrew Irumba
The minister for labour, gender and social development Hon. Frank Kagyigi Tumwebaze has Friday morning briefed the media about resolutions undertaken by ministers in East Africa and the Horn of Africa about the social security of migrant workers from Africa.
Tumwebaze returned from Nairobi, Kenya a few days ago, where he had gone to attend a forum about the plight of migrant workers, which was organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
The minister however appreciated the media fraternity for the efforts being done to ensure that the right information goes to those who need it, plus their support to the gender ministry.
He wrote thus on Twitter; “We signed a commitment on; Harmonisation of policies for migrant workers, their social security in destination countries & agreed among others on shared consular services.”
He added that; “The ministers’ forum will be sitting every 6 months on a rotational basis to review progress on implementation of agreed actions. Thank u @IOMRONairobi & other Partners @ilo for facilitating the meeting & thanks to my counterpart of Kenya @CsChelugui for the hospitality..”
Tumwebaze also thanked media houses for updating the public about important developments like these.
He tweeted thus; “Thxs Members of the Press for covering our presser on the regional efforts initiated by the ministers’ of labour from East & horn of Africa on the social security of migrant workers.”
He added that “Together, let’s make labour mobility safe & rewarding to both employees & employers globally.”
Here below is Tumwebaze’s statement in full;
Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development
PRESS STATEMENT ON RESOLUTIONS BY THE REGIONAL MINISTERIAL FORUM ON HARMONIZING LABOUR MIGRATION POLICIES IN EAST AND HORN OF AFRICA
DELIVERED BY
HON. FRANK KAJIJI TUMWEBAZE,
MINISTER OF GENDER, LABOUR AND SOCIAL DVELOPMENT
ON
24TH JANUARY, 2020
AT THEUGANDA MEDIA CENTER
The Executive Director Media Centre,Ladies and gentlemen of the press,
It is my pleasure to address you this morning on the Regional Ministerial Forum on Harmonizing Labour Migration Policies in the East Africa and Horn of Africa that I attended in Nairobi, Kenya from the 20th – 21st January 2020.
The forum was also attended by Ministers responsible for labour migration from Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan and Tanzania.
The objectives of the forum were:-
(i) To discuss a harmonized regional strategy on negotiation of Bilateral Labour Agreements with the European Union and Gulf Cooperation Countries;
(ii) To share information on the trends, priorities, needs and interests of member states in order to foster safe and orderly labour mobility within Africa;
(iii) To enhance the knowledge and skills of Government, Stakeholders on the establishment of effective mechanisms of preparing migrant workers for employment abroad.
(iv) To discuss strategies of promoting and protecting the rights of African Migrant workers abroad;
(v) To strengthen regional cooperation on labour migration policy.
(vi) To cooperate in strengthening the capacity of labour migration management institutions
(vii) To promote regional cooperation in combating trafficking in persons.
The key recommendations of the forum were:-
(i) The member countries should revise their laws to facilitate portability of social security benefits to include migrants’ workers;
(ii) The member countries should strengthen the national statistical institutions and data collection mechanisms as well as cooperation on exchange and analysis to inform policies and labour migration governance;
(iii) Member states should establish collaboration on diplomatic and consular assistance for migrants’ workers in particular in countries where some states do not have diplomatic representation, while at the same time promote and support the role of diaspora in assisting migrants workers and protecting their rights in vulnerable situations;
(iv) The registration and regulation of private employment agencies and sharing the information on the registered agencies as well as formation of regional associations to enhance self-regulation amongst private employment agencies should be hamormised;
(v) Member states should promote access to justice by strengthening consular services including posting labour attaches for effective protection of the rights of migrant workers in destination countries.
I thank you
For God and my Country
