The Government of Uganda is seeking for Shs5bn to help in streamlining the externalization of labour.
This was revealed by Peace Mutuuzo, Minister of State for Gender and Culture Affairs, who asked Parliament to consider allocating Shs5bn annually to the Department of Employment Services.
This is after many concerns were raised about the manner in which some of the girls leaving the country are treated in the destination countries.
The Minister made the revelation while tabling a statement on a number of issues raised by MPs on the externalization of labour in which she said that the money will go towards the establishment of a one stop centre for all government agencies involved in the clearance of and giving support to migrant workers.
Mutuuzo said the one stop center will comprise of; Deportment of Employment Services, internal Security Organ, External Security Organ, Interpol and Directorate of Immigration.
“I am requesting the Members of Parliament to seize every opportunity they have to advise the young people to carry out due diligence about companies or individual agents before they travel abroad,” the Minister said.
She added that the Centre will also be charged with finalization of the External Employment Information Management System that will facilitate expeditious processing of licensing, vetting and clearance of migrant workers and that the system will be linked with the immigration system and the foreign missions.
Additionally, the one stop centre will facilitate capturing and analyzing real time date on workers who leave and return to Uganda as well as deploy labour attaches of the Ugandan Missions in Abu Dhobi, Riyadh and Doha.
However, Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah asked why Ugandan taxpayers should bear the burden of paying for the expatriation of these Ugandans abroad instead of the agents of the labour exporting companies.
“Why should government be responsible to repatriate people, why should family be burdened with paying for these people to return?” Oulanyah wondered.
However, Busiiro County East MP, Medard Sseggona Lubega requested Oulanyah to institute a select committee to investigate accusations made by some of the people that have left the country after the Minister’s statement made no mention on the exploitation of the Ugandans.
Deputy Speaker promised to give a ruling on the matter next Tuesday on whether a select committee will be instituted to investigate the matter, table a report for debate on the floor of Parliament and have lawmakers take a decision on the matter.
