The plight of migrant workers in the Middle East is told by the harrowing stories of gross abuse and violation of labour rights.

They travel long distances from their homes for better opportunities only to be tortured, raped and killed.

From the disturbing accounts, it is clear their employers in the Middle East do not consider migrant workers as human beings, yet they need their services. Ugandans who return home are physically, psychologically and emotionally scarred.

Recently, a Vision Group undercover journalist endured the mistreatment and returned to tell the story of inhuman treatment. 

It was a case of dehumanisation. That such behaviour is widespread tells of the Middle East or specifically Arabs treating Africans as slaves and not worthy of being human.

It is not only Ugandans that suffer while working in the Middle East. Stories of inhuman treatment are also reported by Kenyans and several other African countries.

Among them is the starvation of the domestic workers, one such case, was reported by a university girl who returned to Nairobi emaciated to bare bones, shocking the country.

Despite the mistreatment, hundreds are still travelling to the Middle East for jobs. Besides the abuse, the jobs are low paying and even when they safely return home some are in losses. 

It is because they sold family valuables, including land only to return before fully recovering the investments. Their wages go to labour agencies, local and in the Middle East, through deductions for up to six months or more.

The export of labour has become a big business across the world. It is driven by push and pull factors. 

Unemployment is ‘pushing’ people to look for jobs outside their countries. And the existence of opportunities, especially low-wage jobs is ‘pulling’ them to work wherever work exists.

This equation has resulted in the emergence of labour externalisation companies, which have gone on a spree wooing people to work abroad.

In Uganda, there are over 200 such companies. Some are registered and play by the rules. 

But some individuals have joined the business promising highly paying jobs yet in reality, they are taking people for low-paying domestic jobs and sometimes prostitution. Driven by unemployment, many are desperate and willing to take up anything and end up being trafficked.

Not only are labour externalisation companies and individual operators cashing in, but also people are finding job opportunities outside their countries. It also helps countries that take in migrant workers to fill vacant positions.

Due to the level of national development and increasing high family incomes in the Middle East, there are jobs that locals cannot do. This has opened up opportunities for Africans and Asians. 

Mostly the jobs are low paying, but better than what is offered back in their home countries. It is a reflection of unequal incomes and lopsided development. 

Many Ugandans will pay highly to go for the odd jobs in the Middle East, but will not do similar jobs in Uganda. It is either because of pride that they don’t want to be seen doing such jobs or the poor pay is a disincentive.

The mistreatment of migrant workers has prompted calls on governments to stop sending their nationals abroad. 

It has also taken a political twist as in Uganda where the Opposition faults the government for not creating sufficient jobs for the people.

About 300,000 Ugandans are believed to be working in the Middle East mostly as domestic workers. These make a significant contribution to the annual income of $900m (sh3.4 trillion) in remittances.

In Kenya, in 2021, diaspora remittances amounted to $3,718 (sh14 trillion). With such huge monies flowing into a country labour export is lucrative. Both the country and people who go to work get income. 

Only that mistreatment and the driving of the migrant workers like slaves make the otherwise good business stink.

The migrant workers have to withstand the abuse to so as make the money. 

Some are duped to travel for well-paying jobs only to realise they were trafficked. Their agents vanish leaving them stranded in foreign countries where they are bundled into detention centres and some are forced to work for no pay. This is how many Ugandans are stranded in Dubai, now awaiting deportation.

Kenya has tried to put in place a system to monitor Kenyans who work in the Middle East but it has not stopped the abuse. In 2014, it even suspended labour export but due to the pressure from job seekers, the ban was lifted.

It also signed agreements with some Arab countries, but this too has not stopped the abuse. Similarly, Uganda has an agreement with Saudi Arabia yet Ugandans are still not safe. 

They suffer physical abuse and work long hours for low wages with no access to medical care.

Even licensed labour export companies cannot effectively follow up on the workers. It would be costly to put up a system managed from Uganda because it would require to have offices throughout the Middle East.

In the run-up to the World Cup, Qatar has introduced a conducive work environment safeguarding and promoting labour rights. In addition, it has set a non-discriminatory minimum wage of $500.

Recently, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) member states called on Middle East countries to pick a leaf from Qatar.

Uganda like any exporter of low-skill workers finds itself with no leverage. If it stops, the Arab employees will still find desperate people from elsewhere to employ. 

Twitter @dmukholi1