A special delegation from the Federation of Ugandan Migrant Workers Associations (FUMWA) the Apex umbrella body representing Ugandan migrant workers abroad, led by Mr. Abdallah Kayonde, the International Relations Director and President of Migrant Workers’ Voice, recently met with top management from the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DCIC) under the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The meeting, held at the office of Gen.Goa Kasita, aimed to discuss strategies for managing and promoting safe labor migration following Uganda’s ratification of the Global Compact for Migration.
Key Discussion Points
The delegation emphasized the importance of establishing regulated migration pathways to ensure the safety and welfare of Ugandan migrant workers.
Among the key points discussed were:
Verification Exercise: The possibility of implementing a general verification exercise for potential migrant workers before their exit, particularly those heading to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, where reports of torture and maltreatment are prevalent.
General Briefing on Dangers:
A comprehensive briefing on the dangers associated with irregular migration, including drug trafficking and human trafficking.
Support Systems:
The establishment of a reception center for both victims of trafficking and regular migrant workers upon their return, ensuring accountability and a robust database to track Ugandan migrants.
Patriotism and Welfare Support:
A focus on educating migrant workers about patriotism and providing welfare support throughout their migration journey.
Mr. Kayonde highlighted that approximately three out of four migrations are labour oriented, yet many Ugandans fall victim to circumstances due to misleading migration practices. He pointed out that individuals often leave Uganda as tourists or visitors but end up changing their status upon arrival in destination countries, leading to legal complications and exploitation.
Global Context: Learning from Other Countries like the Philippines, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kenya, and Ethiopia have established robust labour migration policies that contribute significantly to their national GDPs through remittances.
Philippines: Remittances from overseas workers accounted for approximately 9.8% of its GDP in 2021. The Philippine government has developed a comprehensive framework for labour migration that includes a dedicated agency for overseas workers’ welfare and rights protection. This proactive approach has made it a model for other nations.
India: With remittances contributing around 3% to its GDP, India has implemented various policies aimed at protecting its migrant workers.The Indian government has established a National Action Plan for Migrant Workers that emphasizes rights protection and ethical recruitment practices.
Bangladesh: Remittances represent about 6% of Bangladesh’s GDP. The country has enacted policies like the Overseas Employment and Migrants Act, which allows workers to lodge complaints against exploitative practices by employers or recruitment agencies.
Pakistan: Remittances account for roughly 8% of Pakistan’s GDP. The government has developed a National Emigration and Welfare Policy that focuses on safeguarding emigrants’ rights while enhancing their contributions to national development.
Kenya:
Remittances contribute approximately 3% to Kenya’s GDP, with inflows reaching $4 billion in 2023. Kenya has implemented structured labor migration frameworks that include pre-departure training and bilateral agreements with destination countries.
Ethiopia:
Labour migration is increasingly recognized as vital for economic growth, with remittances contributing around 5% to Ethiopia’s GDP. The Ethiopian government is working on policies that ensure safer migration pathways.
Uganda’s Remittance Contributions
In Uganda, remittances accounted for approximately 4% of GDP in FY 2023/24, amounting to $1.39 billion a slight recovery from pandemic induced declines in previous years that led to Contribution In 2023, remittances accounting for 2.63% of Uganda’s GDP by the decline from previous years of the pandemic. While this represents a significant contribution to household incomes and domestic consumption, Uganda lags behind countries like Kenya and Ethiopia in leveraging its labor migration sector for economic growth.
For comparison:
Kenya’s remittance inflows reached $4 billion in 2023 (about 3% of GDP).even after the earlier years of the pandemic
Ethiopia’s remittance inflows stood at $5 billion in recent years (about 5% of GDP).
Uganda’s relatively lower remittance contributions highlight the need for improved labor migration policies that can maximize economic benefits while protecting migrant workers.
Concerns Over Trafficking and Abuse
During the meeting, Mr. Kayonde expressed grave concerns regarding the government’s apparent failure to adequately monitor Ugandan citizens who migrate for work. He noted that many distressed migrant workers face deportation due to unresolved civil labor disputes rather than intentional violations of immigration laws. This situation is exacerbated by the Kafala system in Saudi Arabia, which often leaves workers vulnerable to exploitation.
Kayonde stressed that deporting victims without addressing their labor issues only perpetuates a cycle of irregular migration and trafficking. He urged the government to develop bilateral labor agreements that create safe zones for returning migrants, preventing them from resorting to dangerous pathways upon their return.
Call for Tripartite Mechanism
The delegation proposed embracing a tripartite approach involving all stakeholders government agencies, recruitment agencies, and migrant workers themselves an approach that has seen countries like the Philippines develope their labour migration sector robustly with meaningful returns, in order to ensure effective governance in labor migration. This collaborative effort would hold all parties accountable for protecting migrant rights and enhancing Uganda’s image internationally.
The FUMWA delegation appreciated the DCIC’s positive attitude towards ensuring safe migration pathways for Ugandans. Which welcomed the proposed working relationship with the Apex leadership of Ugandan migrant workers as long as it aligns with recommendations from the line Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development.
Next Steps
As discussions progress, FUMWA awaits an official position from the Ministry of Gender regarding these proposals. Mr. Kayonde emphasized that a coordinated database among key stakeholders is crucial for improving support systems for Ugandan migrants.
He stated, “We will not tire in pushing for migration order and protection for our own who continue to suffer under unclear circumstances and yet can not be stop their movement, but can improve regulations to strengthen their rights protection and welfare.”
The meeting marks a significant step toward enhancing Uganda’s approach to labor migration. By learning from successful models in countries like the Philippines, Kenya, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia where remittance contributions range between 3%–9% of GDP Uganda can develop more effective policies that not only protect its citizens but also enhance national development through increased remittance flows.
With $1.39 billion already flowing into Uganda annually from remittances, there is immense potential to boost this figure through better governance in labour migration pathways while safeguarding worker welfare abroad and preserving Uganda’s image abroad.
