THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA

MINISTRY OF GENDER LABOUR AND SOCIAL

DEVELOPMENT

STATEMENT ON EXTERNALISATION OF LABOUR

I

DECEMBER 2015

Introduction:
Madam Speaker, Government acknowledges that labour markets abroad
have continued to provide employment opportunities for Ugandans in the
short-run as the country develops its capacity to generate sufficient jobs for
its labour force.

The Government under the MGLSD is mandated to promote decent

employment

opportunities

and

labour

productivity.

The

National

Employment Policy for Uganda, 2011 provides for externalization of labour

(labour export) as a key priority area for Government.

In a bid to manage the unemployment pressure and maximize the gains of

labout migration, Government initiated the Externalization of Labour
Programme. The programme is regulated by the Statutory Instrument No.
62, of 2005, The Employment (Recruitment of Ugandan Migrant Workers

Abroad) Regulations] 2005. Under the regulations, private companies are

licensed to source and formally j officially place Ugandans to work abroad. As
of lOth December 2015 fifty three (53) companies had been licensed. It
should be noted also that a number of Ugandans (47,451 by 31st July 2015)
. had sec.ured jobs through the Programme.

Madam Speaker, Government has all along put emphasis on the protection
of the rights and promotion of welfare of migrant workers going to work
especially in Middle East where some may be mistreated. Ugandans have
been migrating for employment abroad through three channels:
a) Licensed recruitment companies;
b) Individuals sourcing jobs themselves; and
c) Unlicensed companies/individuals

The biggest challenge has been that a big number of Ugandans have either
been going out on their own in search of employment opportunities or fallen

victims of exploitation to individuals/unlicensed agencies both here and

abroad.

Madam Speaker, in order to minimise this, government on 7th July 2015

signed a bilateral labour agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The
key provisions of the agreement include:
i) A mutually acceptable recruitment and deployment system;
ii) Recruitment done through approved recruitment agencies;
iii) Prohibition of charges or deductions from the salary of the
employees;
iv) Rights of recourse to competent authorities in case of contractual
disputes; and
v) Legal measures against recruitment agencies which violate the
applicable laws.
The two countries also agreed on a Standard Employment Contract
which shall govern the employment in Saudi Arabia of Ugandan workers
and which shall be followed by all emp~oyers and Ugandan HSWs in
Saudi Arabia. The employers shall provide the employees with the
following:
i)

Return air ticket;

ii)

Identity cards on arrival;

iii)

Decent accommodations;

iv)

Health insurance package;

v)

, Transport to and from work;

vi)

Eight (8) working hours a day, beyond which the employee shall be
paid overtime allowance;

vii)

Minimum wage of US$200;

viii)

Facilitate the issuance of exit visas to employees upon contract

completion or in emergency, as the situation may require.

As per the agreement with Saudi Arabia, the term domestic workers or
household workers refer to workers employed by the household. It
includes all occupations ranging from professionals i.e. doctors, pilots,
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accountants, farm managers, nurses, therapy specialists, etc. to the

lowest occupations like gardeners, houseboys and housemaids.

In the implementation of the programme a Joint Technical Committee

shall

be

formed

composed of the representatives of the following

institutions:
i)

Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development;

ii)

Ministry of Intemal Affairs;

iii)

.Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

iv)

External Security Organisation;

v)

Internal Security Organisation;

vi)

Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs

The Technical Committee will perform the following:

a) Coordinate between the two parties in the implement of this Agreement
and take the necessary measures in this regard;
b) Periodic review, assessment and monitoring of the implementation of the
Agreement;
~

c) Conduct consultative meetings in the Republic of Uganda and the

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia alternately on a date and place mutually
agreed by both Parties;
d) Make necessary recommendations to resolve disputes arising from the
implementation and

the

interpretation

of the

provisions

of the

Agreement or amendment/ s to this Agreement, as may be necessary;

and
e) Periodically review and amend the standard Employment Contract as
and when necessmy

Madam Speaker, bearing in mind the inadequate capacity existing within

government to monitor the migrant workers

in the countries of

employment, for the case of Saudi Arabia, government has signed a

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SAMAOC Trading Services
Establishment in the Kingdom of Saud Arabia to complement the efforts
4

of the Ministry and the Embassy of Uganda in Riyadh. The purpose of the
MoU is to:
a)

Provide for a one-stop intervention mechanism to address

labour matters in Uganda and potential export markets in the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. At the centre will be a regulatory
platform that would generate information for decision-making
as well as a mechanism for guiding the country's labour policy,
law and regulations;

b)

Help the government of Uganda provide high quality labour

opportunities with all attendant benefits to households and the
entire economy;

c)

Provide

for

mechanisms

to

ensure

transparency

and

accountability with special focus on the protection of the rights

of Ugandan migrant labour while on duty overseas; and
d)

Conduct periodic monitoring and supervision missions with a

view to ensuring compliance with the bilateral agreement
signed.

Madam Speaker, Bilateral Labour Agreements (BLAs) are an i~portant

mechanism for inter-;state cooperation to: protect migrant workers; match
labour demand and supply; manage irregular migration and regulate
recruitment.
Discussions are already underway to conclude and sign bilateral labour
agreements with other countries including Qatar, United Arab Emirates,
Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait.

Madam Speaker, I beg to lay the signed bilateral agreement with the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Standard Employment Contract on the
floor of Parliament.

Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development

December 2015
5