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The Government has kick-started the process to have all kyeyo workers (external labourers) save a part of their salaries and allowances with the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).

This implies that all labourers who go to work abroad through registered labour exporting companies will have to save with the government organ to, among others, limit cases of fraud.

The development was revealed by Betty Amongi, the labour, gender and social development minister, as she flagged off 390 semi-skilled workers from Hays Recruiting Experts at Lubowa, Wakiso district, yesterday.

Amongi said the Government was developing a system where workers will be given codes on their departure that will enable them to save with NSSF. This, she explained, would be done through an automated system whose development, she said, was yet to be completed.

“We have come up with a detailed document, and we are waiting for approval from Cabinet. The terms of saving will apply just like it is with all other workers here in the country,” the minister said.

According to plan, the saving charges, whose amount the minister declined to mention, would be contributed by both the employer company and workers.

Whether the workers will comply or not still remains a matter of contention, as mixed reactions could be read across the faces of the workers on hearing about the development from the minister.

The labour, gender and social development minister noted that the Government has over time received complaints from external labourers who claim to have been defrauded by those they trust with their money. 

“Every day, we receive complaints from people working abroad claiming to have lost money to fraudsters (relatives). The Government has come out to respond on this with the urgency it deserves,” the minister said.

According to the plan, the contributor gets up to 10% interest on their savings annually. This, according to the minister, will ensure both security and growth of the saved money.

Amongi condemned the practice of fraud, which she said is committed by close relatives and sometimes spouses of the external labourers.

Flagged off 

A total of 390 semi-skilled workers were flagged off for kyeyo in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

These will specifically work at the UAE airport, according to the labour externalisation company. The group is set to leave on Sunday, following their clearance by Hays Recruiting Experts, one of registered companies certified to export workers.

A total of 116 male and 274 female workers, drawn from across the country, were trained in different fields including cargo handling, check-in skills, cabin crew management and taxi driving.

Addressing journalists after the flagging exercise, Amongi called on candidates to protect the image of the country. She noted that labourers from Uganda are in high demand, attributing this to discipline, hard work and English language-speaking skills.

“When you go out, know that you are representing your country. We are still in good books because our people are hardworking. Please, be good when you get there,” the minister appealed.

Amongi said Uganda earns up to sh3.4 trillion every year as remittances from labour externalisation. This, she said, not only spurs economic development, but creates jobs for the youth. She urged the public to use registered companies when going abroad for work, saying it is easy to track authorised companies. 

She noted that companies are required to pay sh100m as a guarantee before registration. 

The money, she said, helps in processing the return of workers who may suffer face challenges.

Over 320 labour-exporting companies are registered and authorised to operate in Uganda.