The Cabinet will sit today to discuss whether to permit workers to be exported from Uganda to the Middle East.
The government has been forced to have the hard talk due to the persistent cries of a group of employees, most of whom move to the Middle East to work as domestic helpers.
The Cabinet shockingly requested that Ms. Betty Amongi, the minister of gender, labor, and social development, get an update on migrant workers during a very meeting held at State House.
According to sources, Ms. Amongi was quickly ordered to present a thorough report on the subject today after being taken by surprise. The Cabinet will seek the advice in this report.
Hard data shows that the labor externalization sector is essential to solving Uganda’s unemployment problem. The remittances of migrant workers, which have been estimated to make up around 5% of the GDP by 2021, are another source of funds.
According to experts, it would be wrong for the government to ban the export of labor to the Middle East.
Prof. Ahmed Hadji, a specialist in labor externalization services, urged Uganda to embrace the Philippines’ model, which has “a very good system” and “is so big on labor externalization.”
Over the course of two years, a migrant worker makes around $270 (Shs1m) every month. This indicates that a person can earn a gross income of Shs24 million, some of which can be returned home.