Labour minister vows on workers’ rights

Embattled Minister Herbert Kabafunzaki addresses journalists in Kabale District recently. File photo

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Pledge. Minister promises to ensure that Ugandans are given first priority of employment by international companies contracted to execute national projects.

KABALE.

The newly appointed state minister for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, Mr Herbert Kabafunzaki, has vowed to fight for the rights of Ugandans taken abroad for employment.
Mr Kabafunzaki, who is also MP for Rukiga County, on Monday promised to review the process to ensure that they are not cheated by the companies that take them abroad.

Addressing a press conference in Kabale District, Mr Kabafunzaki also promised to ensure that Ugandans are given first priority for employment by the international companies contracted to execute national projects.

“I have already established that some of the companies taking Ugandans abroad for casual employment demand Shs4 million and charge them Shs350, 000 for a passport when the government price for getting a passport is only Shs50, 000,” Mr Kabafunzaki said.

“I have also established that international companies that are contracted to execute government projects employ people from their mother countries, denying Ugandans jobs. I was surprised to hear that 90 per cent of the employees on the Standard Gauge Railway are Chinese and yet our people are suffering abroad where their rights are vehemently abused. This must stop with immediate effect,” he added.

Mr Kabafunzaki asked companies exporting human labour to always make a follow up of the people they send to avoid situations of them being mistreated.
“I will not tolerate companies that demand for money from the unemployed youth to have them recruited for international jobs. Corruption in this ministry must end as I enter into this office,” he said.
He also promised to ensure that regional balance is observed in employment of people.

“International companies that are contracted to execute government projects employ people from their mother countries, denying Ugandans jobs. This must stop with immediate effect,” he said.

He asked members of the Opposition to join government and work for the development of Uganda.
“Everybody in Uganda should join the NRM government now that it is the one in power and whose manifesto is being implemented. I am ready to follow up the issue of minimum wage to stop the exploitation of workers in Uganda,” Mr Kabafunzaki said.