Labour export gets boost after key Saudi Arabia deal
The bi-lateral labour agreement on domestic workers expired on 23rd February 2023 but the one for general workers is still running.
The Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development has signed a new labour bilateral agreement with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The deal provides for a new standard employment contract for domestic workers.
Updating the press on these new developments at Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, the Minister for Gender Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi, said this will help domestic workers not to be held in houses of their employers without their will.
She noted this is because there is a mandatory provision that after working for two years, one cannot force the employee to work for them.
“Girls who want to offer services of domestic work in Saudi Arabia can now start applying through different legal labour export companies following the completion of negotiations and signing of a new and revised bi-lateral agreement between the government of Uganda and that of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” she added.
The bi-lateral labour agreement on domestic workers expired on 23rd February 2023 but the one for general workers is still running.
Out of the 150,000 Ugandan workers in Saudi Arabia 120,000 are domestic workers who remit $700 million annually.
The Minister highlighted that the new standard employment contract under the agreement prohibits deductions of salary of domestic workers and also provides for mechanisms of protecting their rights.
“The employer in the new agreement is not allowed to transfer a domestic worker to serve in his relatives or friends home without her consent.
“There is a mandatory provision of ensuring that domestic workers serve for only two years which our ministry of labour will use as a mechanism for follow up and update parents of the worker,” she explained.
Ministry of gender has however cautioned those who travel to Arab countries through smuggling that this agreement will not protect them.
The agreement has also regulated recruitment to ensure it does not affect the people applying for work, and also interlinked the external management information system in Uganda with that of Saudi Arabia for effective follow up and updates.
