Government to protect domestic workers abroad

KAMPALA.

The government has finalised arrangements to promote and protect the rights of Ugandan domestic workers in Saudi Arabia.
Under the arrangements, three Ugandan labour export companies; International Employment Linkages (IEL), Security Link and Al Firsan Group, have signed a partnership agreement with a Saudi Arabia-based firm Ingaz Recruitment Company to monitor safety and working conditions of domestic workers.
Last week, the government launched a labour monitoring system in partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Labour minister Janat Mukwaya said the online monitoring system would help assure the safety of Ugandans working in Saudi Arabia by offering a platform on which they can be tracked.
Ms Mukwaya said workers will have access to phones installed with the monitoring system in order to report any mistreatment to the labour ministry directly.
The managing director of IEL, Ms Lillian Keen Mugerwa, said the initiative seeks to ensure that all girls have decent work at their respective workplaces.
“We are allowed to choose three companies to work with in Saudi Arabia but they must have a proper monitoring system and one of our staff will be recruited to monitor the working conditions and contracts of our domestic workers,” said Ms Mugerwa.
While briefing the recruites in Kampala last week, Ms Mugerwa described domestic work as a difficult job; saying a contract will provide for resting hours and other benefits.
Mr Ali Saleh Alswayah, the General Manager of Ingaz Recruitment Company, described the arrangement as a welcome move that will promote and protect domestic workers and their businesses.
Mr Nooh Mayambala, the chief executive of Security Link, said the arrangement will also safeguard their operations.