By Our Reporter
The Ugandan government has signed a bilateral agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which is aimed at resuming labour exportation. The agreement was signed March 29, 2023 by the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Hon Betty Amongi.
The development came after both countries reached an agreement on a number of issues. Some of the key factors discussed in the lead up to the new agreement include improvement in the welfare and rights of workers, regulation and control of costs and no deductions on salaries among other topics. The key issues discussed and concluded include improvements in the welfare and rights of domestic workers, regulating and control costs, no deductions on salaries except those stipulated by law or as authorized by the employee. Uganda and Saudi Arabia agreed on Legal redress during violation of laws and regulations, employees facilitated to open bank accounts and all their money be paid there unless otherwise stated by the employee.
They also agreed on the transfer of employees and renewal of contracts to be regulated and a joint Technical and a committee is to be established within two months. It should be recalled that the Ugandan government suspended the bilateral labour export agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in December 2022 at the height of reports of gross labour rights violations , exploitation, torture and detention without trial and sexual harassment of Ugandan migrant workers.
CLSD Minister Hon Betty Amongi
The two countries had signed a fiveyear agreement in 2017 to promote the welfare of domestic workers. However, the government refused to renew that contract after it expired asking Saudi Arabia to address the issues of violation of workers’ rights..
