The government has stepped up its nationwide campaign to promote safe and regulated external labour migration as part of its efforts to create jobs for Ugandans.
Milton Turyasiima, the Assistant Commissioner for Employment Services at the Ministry of Labour, Gender, and Social Development, said at a media briefing in Gulu City yesterday that Uganda’s labour market continues to face pressure, with about 700,000 people entering the workforce annually against limited job creation.
Turyasiima emphasizes that the government, through the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, is intensifying awareness efforts to ensure the public understands the risks of irregular migration and the benefits of using licensed recruitment systems.
Currently, there are a total of 274 recruitment companies licensed to conduct recruitment and placement of Ugandans outside Uganda.
However, Turyasiima said the government has established strict measures to ensure that contracts signed by Ugandans seeking jobs abroad meet international labour standards, including guaranteed wages, regulated working hours, medical care, and fair termination procedures.
He cautions the public against dealing with unlicensed agents and tour and travel companies, noting that individuals and unlicensed companies are not permitted to recruit workers for jobs abroad.
Speaking yesterday, Turyasiima said that many Ugandans are falling victim to fraudsters due to failure to use official channels when seeking jobs abroad.
In the Acholi sub-region, youth unemployment is even higher at 13.6 percent, while the national youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) stands at 17.9 percent according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS).
By URN
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