Kayonde Abdallah President Migrant Workers’ Voice
KAMPALA – Players in the labour externalization sector have rejected a proposal by labour Minister Betty Amongi to revamp the deployment of Ugandan Migrant workers to Jordon before ironing out key issues including NSSF and the insurance scheme.
Abdallah Kayonde, the president of Migrant Workers’ Voice in a statement on Tuesday said about 10,000 Ugandan migrant workers are estimated to be deployed in Jordan.
“We are deeply worried about the protection of rights of Ugandans deployed in Jordan in the current external labour recruitment status quo when instances of mistreatment raise questions about monitoring systems and accountability for recruitment agencies and employers. Wondering how the minister’s position will improve on this status quo when she can still make decisions without consulting main stakeholders including recruitment agencies and migrant workers themselves,” Mr. Kayonde wrote.
Uganda had banned its citizens from taking jobs as domestic workers in Jordan after reports of mistreatment surfaced on the internet.
The ban was influenced after relatives reported sexual abuse, slavery, and beatings of Ugandan women by individual household employers in Jordan.
Kayonde said resuming labour business in Amman without addressing critical issues was a dangerous idea that is likely to expose Ugandan job seekers to harsher working conditions.
“There is a lack of support and assistance for Ugandan migrant workers who face difficulties or mistreatment abroad, particularly in Jordan and the absence of a permanent consulate in Jordan and the need for a robust system to aid workers facing challenges, including those resulting from constructive dismissal,” he said.
He said that without the minister involving all other stakeholders including concerned government agencies, recruitment representatives, and workers, business in Jordan remains un a threat.
Kayonde also suggested that the Kampala regime needed to get out of its comfort zone and establish stronger diplomatic ties with the Arab world Jordan, where Ugandan migrant workers are deployed.
“The government needs to establish a permanent consulate to ensure proper support and representation for workers. Many of our own previously deployed in Jordan have been left incarcerated due to lack of nobody following,” he said.
Ugandan workers have annually remitted about $400 million from the Middle East back home – about 40 percent of remittances from all over the world to Uganda.
See full statement
STRONG REJECTION OF MINISTER BETTY AMONGI’S PROPOSAL TO REVAMP DEPLOY MENT OF UGANDAN MIGRANT WORKERS TO JORDAN WITHOUT CONSIDERING STAKEHOLDERS’ OPINIONS.
On behalf of Ugandan migrant workers working abroad, migrant workers’ voice would like to express their dissatisfaction in the position taken by Ministry of gender labour and Social Development to quickly revive business in Jordan without involving all stakeholders, recommending NSSF and the insurance scheme proposal and without proper measures laid out for those going there.
ABOUT JORDAN
There are about 10,000 Ugandan migrant workers estimated to be deployed Jordan,
Protection of workers’ rights: we deeply worry about the protection of rights of Ugandans deployed in Jordan in the current external labour recruitment status quo when instances of mistreatment raises questions about monitoring systems and accountability for recruitment agencies and employers. Wondering how the minister’s position will improve on this status quo when she can still make decisions without consulting main stakeholders including recruitment agencies and migrant workers themselves.
Transparency and accountability: regarding Hon. Betty Amongi’s bid to revamp the deployment of workers without addressing the alleged mistreatment of Ugandan nationals in Jordan, the need for transparency and accountability in any proposed changes to the recruitment process. Mainly Ugandan migrant workers deployed in Jordan are untraceable. Due to that, you cannot just let business to continue.
Support for distressed workers: there is lack of support and assistance for Ugandan migrant workers who face difficulties or mistreatment abroad, particularly in Jordan and the absence of a permanent consulate in Jordan and the need for a robust system to aid workers facing challenges, including those resulting from constructive dismissal. You cannot rely on Saudi Arabia’s embassy in giving job orders to Jordanians in such a distance when it has failed to manage migrant works within its jurisdiction that’s to say, I they have failed to assist Ugandans in the inland city of Saudi Arabia, how will it be able to help those in Jordan where it acquires a visa to reach?.
Without the minister involving all other stakeholders including concerned government agencies, recruitment representatives and workers business in Jordan remains at a threat and the minister aims at exposing Ugandans without any fallback position as they are left in Saudi Arabia.
Ensuring workers’ well-being: the minister should first advocate for measures that prioritize the well-being and protection of Ugandan migrant workers before revamping business with Jordan and highlight the importance of addressing their social, psychological, and financial needs, as well as ensuring they receive fair treatment and due process in case of alleged criminality.
Strengthening diplomatic relations: there is need for stronger diplomatic relations between Uganda and countries like Jordan, where Ugandan migrant workers are deployed and the importance of establishing a permanent consulate to ensure proper support and representation for workers. Many of our own previously deployed in Jordan have been left incarcerated in due to lack of nobody following.
Collaboration and coordination: the minister has to consider the need for collaboration between relevant stakeholders, including government agencies, recruitment agencies, employers, migrant workers and civil society organizations highlight the importance of working together to develop and implement effective protection mechanisms and support systems for migrant workers.
International standards and frameworks: there is need for Uganda to align its policies and practices with international standards and frameworks for the protection of migrant workers highlight the importance of complying with international human rights and labor rights conventions to ensure the fair and just treatment of Ugandan workers abroad.
However on a serious note, We would like to call the Uganda country chief of IOM to restrain his Ugandan staff within IOM who seemingly deliberate themselves in sponsoring such sporadic wasteful trips in such destinations like that of ministry of gender to Dubai and Jordan including more numbers of the same ministry officials, undermining the inclusion of the main stakeholders and other relevant officials from different departments, recruitment agency representatives and worker’s representatives on board if indeed the purpose of these trips are meant to tailor and resolve Uganda’s migration challenges pertaining migrant workers.
ABOUT NSSF
Financial security for workers: Hon. Betty Amongi’s quick proposal for Ugandan migrant workers to start saving with the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) without first analyzing the feasibility and adequacy of such a savings scheme, particularly in relation to providing sufficient financial security for workers and addressing their specific needs and secondly Ugandan migrant workers were not initially tailored to be party of the national saver, therefore with all their problems, they deserve a special tailored fund which does not only focus on savings but at the same time it is used to manage pre-departure, day to day on site challenges and reintegration.
ABOUT THE MIGRANT WORKERS’ WELFARE FUND.
Comprehensive migrant workers social welfare fund: the proposal from migrant workers for a special migrant workers’ social welfare fund addresses the importance of a comprehensive approach which goes beyond mere savings and includes provisions for assistance during distress, repatriation support, and reintegration measures.
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