Government Cracks Down on Illegal Labour Export by Tour Companies
The Ugandan government has issued a stern warning to tour and travel companies illegally recruiting citizens for work abroad, emphasizing that such activities are outside their legal mandate and pose serious risks to unsuspecting job seekers.
The Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, Hon. Esther Anyakun Davinia, raised the alarm on Thursday, citing a worrying increase in cases where companies and individual agents use social media to advertise foreign jobs, extort money from youths, and then either abandon them or expose them to dangerous conditions.
“Tours and Travel Companies are not legally mandated to take Ugandans abroad for work. Of late, there are many tours and travel companies advertising through social media platforms. Others have extorted money from many youths and not taken them abroad as they purport,” the Minister stated.
She clarified that only recruitment companies licensed by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development are authorised to facilitate employment abroad. The Ministry does not license individuals for this purpose.
“Even for licensed companies, before Ugandans sign up with them, they must verify whether the Ministry has approved the job orders the company purports to have,” Hon. Anyakun advised.
The warning was delivered during the launch of the Safe Labour Migration Awareness Campaign under the theme “Travel Safe. Stay Safe.” The nationwide initiative aims to educate the public on legal migration processes, promote licensed recruiters, publicise complaint channels, and strengthen trust in government protection systems.
As part of the campaign, the ministry has established official channels for reporting exploitation or illegal recruitment:
· The EEMIS Complaints Module at eemis.mglsd.go.ug
· The Migrant Help Line App – Sauti 116
· Telephone contact: +256 414 341 250
The ministry assured that all complaints will be treated seriously and investigated promptly.
Background: Labour Externalisation as a Response to Unemployment
The government’s action comes amidst growing pressure from a rapidly expanding labour force, with hundreds of thousands of youths entering the job market annually against limited local opportunities.
In response, the government’s Externalisation of Labour Programme, regulated since 2005, seeks to create safe pathways for citizens seeking work abroad. Currently, 246 companies are licensed to formally recruit workers, primarily for destinations in the Middle East.
Hon. Anyakun highlighted the programme’s benefits, noting it has created over 280,000 jobs since 2016 and generated approximately USD 1.3 billion in remittances last year alone.
The Minister called on the media, communities, and families to collaborate with the government to ensure that Ugandans pursuing work abroad can do so safely, legally, and with dignity.
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