Esther Davina Anyakun, the Minister of State for Labour, Employment, and Industrial Relations, has rooted for safe labor immigration, calling on the media to play a crucial role in disseminating this information.
While addressing journalists at the Nile Luxe Hotel in Jinja on Friday, December 13, 2024, Anyakun expressed concern over the exploitation of Ugandan youth, particularly those from the eastern region, by unregistered recruitment agencies, saying that these individuals often face distress in the Middle East after falling victim to fraudulent schemes.
“While the Ministry of Gender has approved 294 registered recruitment agencies, many fraudulent companies continue to exploit young Ugandans, luring them into unsafe migration pathways,” she said.
According to the minister, only 40% of the estimated 500,000 Ugandans working in the Middle East utilized official channels for their employment. This alarming statistic underscores the prevalence of illegal and unsafe migration practices, leading to numerous instances of repatriation.
Anyakun emphasized the importance of adhering to legal migration procedures and provided a list of approved recruitment agencies to guide potential migrants. She, therefore, urged the media to actively promote these guidelines and raise public awareness about the dangers of engaging with unregistered entities.
This initiative aims to protect Ugandan workers from exploitation and ensure their safety and well-being while seeking employment opportunities abroad.
