The State Minister for Labour, Employment, and Industrial Relations, Esther Davinia Anyakun, has urged Ugandan migrant workers in the United Arab Emirates to exploit the 90-day amnesty to return home.
The minister’s statements come after Ugandan Labor Authorities successfully repatriated at least 145 Ugandan stranded migrant workers from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after the Minister of Human Resource and Social Development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Eng. Ahmed Alrajhi, granted amnesty to Ugandans in the UAE.
Addressing the media on Monday, November 11, 2024, at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, Anyakun appealed to the Ugandans still stranded in the UAE to exploit the 90 days of amnesty to initiate the process of returning home.
“I would like to call upon Ugandans who find themselves in these circumstances to take advantage of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia pardon, which has a window of 90 days, and the amnesty by the United Arab Emirates to Ugandans currently residing in the UAE without proper documentation or facing legal issues. This amnesty is in effect until December 2024,” she said.
Anyakun revealed that the government is working around the clock to ensure the safe return of the stranded Ugandans in the UAE.
“I am happy to inform you that 146 Ugandans have been repatriated back home so far, the latest being 54 Ugandan girls who arrived this weekend aboard Air Arabia. This is a key development that underscores our commitment to the welfare of our citizens abroad. We continue to work with our partners to ensure the safe return of all Ugandans still stranded,” she said.
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She, however, advised Ugandan migrant workers to ensure the use of authorized labor recruiting companies for the safety and good working conditions of the workers, stating that most of those imprisoned in the UAE used unauthorized companies that were clear on the jobs available for workers.
Statistics from the Gender Ministry indicate that approximately 280,000 Ugandans seek household jobs annually, driven by factors such as poverty, unemployment, and domestic violence.
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Most of them live in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and are also scattered in the other five Emirates, such as Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Uma Al Quwain, and Ras al Khaimah.
The government’s proactive stance marks a significant step in addressing the challenges facing Ugandan migrant workers in the Gulf region as it works to improve safety and welfare measures for its citizens abroad.
