Mukwaya visits Jordan to assess working conditions of Ugandans
Sep 10, 2019
Recently, some Ugandans working in Jordan have complained of various abuses despite the existence of a bilateral agreement between the two countries on the safety and wellbeing of migrant workers.
The Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Hon. Janat Mukwaya on Tuesday concluded a three-day official visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan where she held bilateral talks focusing on the safety of Ugandan migrant workers in the country.
Mukwaya met with her Jordanian counterpart, Mr. Nedal EL Batayeneh during which they both reechoed the need to uphold the value of amity existing between Uganda and Jordan through enforcing the safety of migrant Ugandan workers.
Recently, some Ugandans working in Jordan have complained of various abuses despite the existence of a bilateral agreement between the two countries on the safety and wellbeing of migrant workers.
However, during a meeting on Tuesday, the Ministers agreed that a joint Technical Committee meeting be held in Kampala soon to review the existing bilateral labour agreement between the two countries and placement procedures with a view of promoting safe and orderly migration.
Jordan has been a high-demand destination for Ugandan migrant workers ever since signing of the joint labour agreement in October 2016. Jordan has been commended for running a progressive law regime and enforcement mechanism compared to other Middle East countries. The labour enforcement mechanism includes a 24-hour toll-free line available to migrant workers for purposes of registering cases of abuse.
During her visit, Mukwaya also took off time to meet with Ugandan migrant workers in Jordan whom she informed that she was in Amman to understand the challenges the workers face for documentation purposes and to guide further action.
The Minister also met with the President of the Arab Women Organisation of Jordan, a women rights civil society organization that provides legal, social and psychological assistance to women including foreign female workers.
Mukwaya advised the Uganda Association of External Recruitment Agencies (UEARA) to enter a Memorandum of Understanding with the rights organisation to bolster the safety of Ugandan migrant workers in Jordan.
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