By Erick Matovu.
Activists that defend workers; rights are accusing Uganda government for remaining silent while workers were being exploited, tortured and deported from the Middle East countries.National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU) Informal Sector Representation and Uganda Markets and Allied Workers Union Deputy General Secretary Ms Jesca Mwijuka accused government of procrastination.“Uganda government has been silent while companies in charge of Labour exports mistreat workers,” She said.She said, there are many disgruntled and unemployed Ugandan youths who have traversed the country in search for jobs in vain and end up leaving for middleEast under unclear terms.Ms Mwijuka , a Workers; Councillor at Mbarara City, said most labour export companies have taken advantage of laxity by government to mistreat and exploit Ugandan workers.The trade unionist said due to high costs involved in formalizing labour exports some youths have had to pass through unofficial channels culminating in bogus jobs and exploitation in the Middle East. She said:” Companies that take disgruntled and unemployed youth have not had signed contracts outlining terms and conditions of service.”Ms Mwijuka said there are no serious conditions that restrict them from mishandling workers and in the end contracted companies sell the workers to other companies.There has been ongoing discussions by stakeholders that companies in Uganda are just suppliers of other companies abroad which limits follow – up and monitoring by Uganda government.Stakeholders have taken serious concerns that once workers in Uganda are handed over to the companies from other countries, they would have no mechanism to check on the workers sent to other foreign companies.“ We have noted that the most affected category are the girls who serve as house maids abroad in unmonitored environments hence the high risk for mistreatment,” said Ms Mwijuka.The situation has been compounded due to the fact that most culprits are the female bosses who torture the girls in homes and sometimes men defile the maids. There have also been cases of unwanted pregnancies after the house maids are raped by their masters. But there are also worse situations where pregnant girls are told to abort using their little resources and some can die.Ms Mwijuka appealed to Uganda government to impose on labour export companies punitive heavy penalties for careless handling of Ugadan workers suffering in the Arab countries.“We are proposing punitive measures that include cancellation of licenses owned by the local labour export company,” She said.The politician cum trade unionist said she has managed to rescue 20 girls and boys who have been victimized while working in the Middle East .She said:” Why hasn’t Uganda government put up an office at the embassy to specifically handle labour exports with workers data base.”Trade unionists are demanding that a company that takes any girl or boy abroad must give a report that helps in easily tracking of whereabouts.“There is also need for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or bilateral agreement signed between Uganda and other countries,” She said.Mbarara City Labour Officer Ms Aminah Nakku Tumwine said the Gender, Labour and Social Development Ministry forgot the district labour officers to participate in the processes of labour exportsShe said those are the relevant offices that would have perfectly handled the data collections when one wished to go abroad for work.Ms Tumwine said if government does not consider the offices to participate in registering workers they will keep suffering abroad because authorities do not have enough data for follow-up and training those that face challenges..She said: “We request government to allow us get involved in registration of Labour exports processes and to verify from parents if their children are allowed to work abroad.”Labour officers also want to investigate export companies if they are genuine and getting links to trace mistreated children abroad ■
