A group of youth led by Joan Namale, who calls herself Charmin of Concerned Citizens, has petitioned the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Frank Tumwebaze over continued closure of labour external externalization sector even when the airport and other sectors are reopened after the COVID-19 induced lockdown. The petition is also copied to Speaker of Parliament, State minister for labour, Permanent secretary, ministry of gender, director labour export at the Ministry and chairperson of Uganda Association for External Recruitment Agencies (UAERA).
The petition was received by the Acting Permanent Secretary at Ministry of Gender , James Ebitu on behalf of the Minister.
“Sir following the closure of external labour export due to closure of the airports following the outbreak of COVID 19, there has been a high rate of unemployment in youths across the country. Hon. Minister sir 90% of the young ladies that go out to work majorly Saudi Arabia are single mothers and uneducated mothers therefore maintaining the business closed even when the international airports re opened with SOPs observed doesn’t not only leave millions of youths unemployed but also a lot of children go hungry and can’t get the basic needs in life,” the petition reads in part.
It adds: “To our surprise as Ugandans who want to go and work abroad through the right channels, hundreds of girls leave Uganda on a daily basis illegally to go and seek external employment.”
The concerned citizens say they strongly condemn the act of promoting Human Trafficking because it happens every day through the board points of Uganda which has not only led to high numbers of people going out illegally, but also leaving them with no job security.
“The purpose of this petition sir is to request your good office to intervene in this situation, issue guidelines to the licensed labour export companies to continue with the business normally. We also request that this matter should be handled with the urgency to protect the Ugandan citizens and also reduce on the high rate of unemployment,” the petition further reads.
