UAE IN NEED OF 80,000 UGANDANS TO WORK

By our reporter

www.mknewslink.com

In Kampala

The government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is in need of 80,000 Ugandans to work there, according to Hajat Janat Mukwaya, the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development.

Minister Mukwaya in Friday’s statement said she was informed of the availability of the jobs she did not specify by the Emirates minister who was in Uganda late June to sign a memorandum of understanding on labour export to that country.

“Immediately upon signing of the MoU, my colleague Minister H.E Nasser bin Thani Al Hamli challenged me as follows: “I need 80,000 Uganda workers in the next 12 months”. This is a huge undertaking and I urge the private sector to take up this offer,” Mukwaya said, adding that Uganda has already sent 40,000 workers to UAE.

However, Premier Recruitment Limited, a subsidiary of Ruparelia Group of companies that specialises in labour recruitment and export has been praised for its efficiency and transparency in its process. The company supplies young men and women to Qatar and Middle East.

She said the signed MoU between the Government of Uganda and UAE offers protection to Ugandan migrants in a number of ways, especially through: Strengthening cooperation by providing a legal framework for the employment of Manpower from Uganda in the UAE; establishing a mechanism to discuss and exchange views on labour related problems and to resolve any outstanding issues relating to workers and their rights.

The others are; creating mutual understanding between the Governments of the two countries to protect all workers, with special consideration to the specific vulnerabilities of female migrant workers; facilitating healthy cooperation and exchange of information on best practices between the two states on labour migration for mutual benefits; and Establishing a mechanism to discuss and exchange views on labour related problems and any outstanding issues relating to workers wellbeing and their rights.

She said the UAE has been the largest destination for the bulk of Ugandan migrant workers. Without an undertaking with the UAE Government, protection of migrant workers and their welfare has not been very easy. The unregulated business had given room to illegal recruitment, trafficking and exploitation.

“However, with an agreement in place, more organized and safe employment shall be created. The terms and conditions of employment of Ugandan worker in the United Arab Emirates shall be defined by an individual employment contract between the worker and the employer,” she said.

Further, she said, an offer that is mirrored on the contract will be signed by both parties prior to the worker’s departure from Uganda. The written text of the employment offer shall be delivered to the prospective worker in English and Arabic and explained by the Ugandan recruitment agency to the recipient where unclear.

All recruitment, hiring and placement activities of workers in both countries shall be permitted only under recruitment companies licensed by both governments.