By Solomon Arinaitwe
Parliament — Parliament yesterday resolved to institute an investigation into companies involved in the lucrative but controversial export of labour to the Middle East on the backdrop of persistent complaints of Ugandan migrant workers being brutalised.
Daily Monitor this week published a list of 58 companies involved in the controversial business, indicating that firms owned by a senior military officer and members of the First Family are among the top labour exporters.
The probe follows countless harrowing tales of Ugandan migrant workers exported to the Middle East that compelled MPs to demand the Gender ministry to table a list of companies involved and their directors.
MPs argued that the government has been reluctant to crack the whip on unscrupulous labour exporting firms because they are owned by well-connected individuals within the government.
Yesterday, deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah tasked the Parliamentary Committee on Gender to establish the nature of the licensing regime for companies involved in labour export as well as ascertain the circumstances under which they continue to export labour despite the moratorium on the export of labour
“The Committee will also investigate allegations of abuse of Ugandans exported to the Middle-East, “Mr Oulanyah said.
Despite the fact that the government slapped a moratorium on export of labour to the Middle East, many companies still take advantage of the high youth unemployment to lure Ugandans with promises of well-paying jobs.
Yesterday, State Minister for Labour Herbert Kabafunzaki lauded the investigation and revealed that a team from the Gender ministry will be travelling to Middle East to start investigations.
“We are travelling to the Middle East this week to sign bilateral agreements and agree on the conditions of workers,” Mr Kabafunzaki said.
The minister is expected to table a list of 58 labour exporters to the committee.