Tumwebaze Convenes Multi-Agency Meeting to Address Labor Migration, Human Trafficking

Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Hon. Frank Tumwebaze on Friday convened a high level multi-agency meeting to formulate strategies to stop human trafficking and coordinate Labour migration.

Tumwebaze envisages harmonized operation among the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the critically required, effort to achieve safe labor migration and stop human trafficking.

“I chaired a meeting today (Friday) with all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to agree on a coordinated approach in the fight against human trafficking and handling of labour migration issues,” said Tumwebaze in a statement on Friday.

The meeting received a report from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit headed by Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema.

“Lt. Col Edith Nakalema and her Anti-Graft State House team presented to us a number of complaints they have been handling and we agreed on a number of measures like strict enforcement of guidelines on labour export,” added Tumwebaze.

The meeting agreed to meet all the licensed labour export companies to hear their views and after have a public dialogue.

The views from stakeholders are to be processed to comprehensive reforms to be presented to Cabinet for further examination and adoption before being taken to Parliament.

The Minister stressed that his Ministry is compassionately dedicated on securing safe labor mobility and social protection.

“Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development is committed to ensure that labour mobility is safe and guarantee social protection of these migrant workers,” said Tumwebaze.

The meeting acknowledged that the most vulnerable and exposed category of migrants are the domestic workers (maids) who are quite often trafficked or taken out irregularly.

In the interim, joint surveillance operations at the airport and at other boarder points against all forms (direct & disguised) of human trafficking were agreed upon among government agencies including Police, Gender Ministry, Internal Affairs and others.

The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Labour, Rukutana Mwesigwa, Acting Permanent Secretary, Ebitu James, Director Labour, Martin Wandera, Commissioner Employment Services, Egulu Lawrence and officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and security agencies.