DP pleads for re-opening of external labor recruiters

POLITICS|DP|ELECTION WATCH

KAMPALA - Democratic Party (DP) has called on the government to allow external labor recruiting companies to resume their work to prevent human trafficking.

DP says the closure may prompt the unemployed and those whose capital was depleted by the circumstances to force their way out and end in hands of people.

"This is going to open an opportunity for human trafficking. Many people are desperate to go to work and support their families. Now that the government is still closing the legal way of traveling abroad for work, many will offer themselves to be trafficked," said Okoler Opio Lo Amanu the party National spokesperson.

Amanu made the remarks while addressing journalists during the party's weekly press briefing at City House in Kampala on Tuesday.

On March 20, 2020, the Ministry of Gender Labor and Social Development following the presidential directives on the COVID-19 pandemic suspended the activities of Labor externalization.

Before closure, the 207 registered recruitment companies in Uganda had taken 165,000 people to work in the Arab world with 65% working in Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

Amanu said as the government contemplates reopening of the labor externalization service, it should establish a formidable strategy to prevent human smuggling.

He further demanded a method to track Ugandans in their places of work in the Arab world be instated by the government.

Amanu warned all non-DP aspirants who are using their party symbols, the hoe, and fist on their election posters to stop the act, branding it illegal.

"There is a new breed of candidates who are independent but are politically dependent on political institutions and their symbols for support," he said.

DP also expressed dissatisfaction with the way EC intends to fund political parties, saying funding should not be distributed on account of political strength or distribution in parliament.

"We believe that any party that has got representation in parliament should receive the money in equal percentage if it is to equally benefit all political parties," Amanu said.

He said for NRM to take the lion's share of the fund affects the participation of other political parties as they will have fewer resources due to the limited funding.