Uganda’s Labor Minister Amongi in Doha to Address Migrant Worker Rights

Summary:

• Betty Amongi, Uganda’s Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, is in Doha, Qatar, discussing efforts to improve labor rights and working conditions for Ugandan migrant workers in the Middle East. The meeting, attended by African and GCC ministers, highlights concerns about exploitation and abuse faced by Ugandan workers.

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Betty Amongi, Uganda’s Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, is currently in Doha, Qatar, engaging in discussions concerning Uganda’s ongoing initiatives to safeguard labor rights and improve working conditions for its migrant workforce in the Middle East.

The primary objective is to establish a more secure and supportive atmosphere for Ugandan migrant workers, ensuring the recognition of their rights and a substantial enhancement in their working environments.

This meeting falls under the auspices of the African Union, where Amongi serves as the chair of the Special Technical Committee (STC) on Social Development, Labour, and Employment. Ministers of labor from various African and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, including Jordan and Lebanon, are participating in the event.

The visit to Qatar holds particular significance due to the growing reports of exploitation and mistreatment faced by Ugandan migrant workers in the Middle East. Numerous accounts shed light on the grim realities confronting these workers upon their arrival, such as withheld wages, severe abuse, and intolerable working conditions, sometimes leading to tragic outcomes.

A prevalent issue among Ugandan migrants is the confiscation of their passports by employers upon arrival, severely limiting their freedom and ability to seek assistance or return home.

Furthermore, many workers have accused the labor externalization companies responsible for their placement of neglecting to offer necessary support or rescue when they encounter abuse or exploitation. These companies are entrusted with ensuring the safety and well-being of the workers they deploy abroad, yet numerous reports indicate a lack of sufficient oversight and aid.

In April 2024, Uganda and Qatar signed a bilateral labor agreement aimed at enhancing the working conditions of Ugandan migrant workers. The agreement encompasses protections for skilled, semi-skilled, and domestic workers, a group particularly vulnerable to exploitation.

It delineates specific terms for employment contracts, minimum wage standards, working hours, and health insurance, ensuring that workers are fully informed about their rights and working conditions before departing from Uganda.

Despite the signing of the agreement, President Museveni has publicly discouraged the exportation of labor.