KAMPALA, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Uganda and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will guide labor externalization to the Middle East country.
Janat Mukwaya, Uganda's minister of gender, labor and social development, told reporters on Friday that the two countries reached the agreement on June 26 in a bid to offer protection to Ugandan migrant workers.
"The UAE has been the largest destination for the bulk of Ugandan migrant workers. Without an undertaking with the UAE, protection of migrant workers and their welfare has not been very easy," Mukwaya said, noting that the unregulated business had given room to illegal recruitment, trafficking and exploitation.
She said that with the agreement in place, more organized and safe employment shall be created.
"The terms and conditions of employment of Ugandan workers in UAE shall be defined by an individual employment contract between the worker and the employer. Further, an offer that is mirrored on the contract will be signed by both parties prior to the worker's departure from Uganda," Mukwaya said while highlighting some of the clauses of the MOU.
She said that after signing the agreement, UAE has requested Uganda to supply 80,000 workers in the next 12 years.
Mukwaya said Uganda has already signed two bilateral agreements on recruitment and employment of Ugandan migrant workers with Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
Mukwaya's comments came against a backdrop of increased public concern over the safety of Ugandan migrant workers in the Middle East.
