US embassy warns on fake job agencies
THE US Embassy has warned that some companies that purport to recruit Ugandans to serve as security guards in Iraq could be involved in human trafficking,
THE US Embassy has warned that some companies that purport to recruit Ugandans to serve as security guards in Iraq could be involved in human trafficking, reports John Odyek
Kathleen Fitzgibbon, the political and economic chief at the US Embassy, told MPs that such companies withhold the pay and passports of people to prevent them from leaving their jobs.
She said the US Department of Defence had launched a policy of zero tolerance on human trafficking, especially to Iraq. “The Government of Uganda should have regulations to ensure that people who go to Iraq are treated well. The Government should make sure local companies recruiting people to go to Iraq are following good practices,†Fitzgibbon said
“Before people go to Iraq they must know their rights and read the work contracts. The Ministry of Labour has to be vigilant when it licenses companies to recruit people going to Iraq.†She said the US government had cancelled the permit of an American company taking people to Iraq because it was not following labour regulations.
The MPs, led by Kyaka Kyokuhirwa (NRM), asked what the US was doing to ensure that Ugandans who travelled to Iraq were not cheated or taken for other purposes. Fitzgibbon replied that trafficking in persons was a clandestine crime which was difficult to deal with.â€
Kathleen Fitzgibbon, the political and economic chief at the US Embassy, told MPs that such companies withhold the pay and passports of people to prevent them from leaving their jobs.
She said the US Department of Defence had launched a policy of zero tolerance on human trafficking, especially to Iraq. “The Government of Uganda should have regulations to ensure that people who go to Iraq are treated well. The Government should make sure local companies recruiting people to go to Iraq are following good practices,†Fitzgibbon said
“Before people go to Iraq they must know their rights and read the work contracts. The Ministry of Labour has to be vigilant when it licenses companies to recruit people going to Iraq.†She said the US government had cancelled the permit of an American company taking people to Iraq because it was not following labour regulations.
The MPs, led by Kyaka Kyokuhirwa (NRM), asked what the US was doing to ensure that Ugandans who travelled to Iraq were not cheated or taken for other purposes. Fitzgibbon replied that trafficking in persons was a clandestine crime which was difficult to deal with.â€