By Gloria Pierina Piwun
The Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde K, has warned unlicensed labour exporters that government will intensify enforcement operations to eliminate illegal recruitment and strengthen protection for Ugandan migrant workers.
Speaking during a meeting with labour recruitment agencies at Imperial Royale Hotel on July 15, Tumukunde said labour export remains an important source of employment and income for many Ugandans, but stressed that it must be conducted through legally approved channels.
“If I find you exporting people without a licence, I will take action. I am going to carry out snap checks at offices, airports and border points,” Tumukunde said.
The minister urged labour recruitment companies to organise themselves into strong associations, saying this would make it easier for government to engage with the sector, address challenges and improve accountability.
“Please associate. Become part of an association. When you are organised, government knows who to deal with and who speaks for the industry,” he said.
Tumukunde also emphasised the need for proper tracking of Ugandan migrant workers, saying government is introducing systems that will help identify workers who have been legally processed and enable authorities to respond quickly whenever they face challenges while abroad.
He further proposed the establishment of accredited training institutions to prepare migrant workers before departure, noting that countries such as Ethiopia have benefited from structured pre-departure training programmes.
“We must have training schools to prepare our workers before they leave. Ethiopia trains its workers before deployment, and we should do the same,” Tumukunde said.
The minister said proper preparation would help workers understand their rights, responsibilities and the working conditions they are likely to encounter in foreign countries.
He called on government agencies, labour recruitment firms and other stakeholders to work together to build a transparent, professional and well-regulated labour export sector that protects Ugandan workers while expanding employment opportunities abroad.
