By Abdallah Kayonde
In a distressing turn of events, reports have emerged that over 15 more Ugandan girls have been trapped in Myanmar again after being trafficked there.
This incident follows the recent rescue of approximately 30 Ugandan boys and girls from the same location, as highlighted by Ambassador Betty Bigombe!
These alarming cases underscore the urgent need for a more robust and coordinated approach to managing labor migration and protecting Ugandan citizens abroad.
The ongoing challenges faced by Ugandan migrant workers, particularly young women, are exacerbated by a fragmented data management system that fails to provide a comprehensive overview of labor migration trends.
The current reliance on siloed data prevents the government and relevant stakeholders from effectively addressing the risks associated with trafficking and exploitation.
While the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) collects data on registered migrant workers through the External Employment Management Information System (EEMIS), many unregistered or irregular migrants remain invisible in this system. This lack of integration leads to significant gaps in understanding the full scope of migration dynamics in Uganda.
Concerns over silo data
Without a unified database, policymakers cannot accurately assess labor migration patterns, leading to ineffective policy development that fails to address the needs of all migrant workers.
Inefficient Policy Development: Fragmented data hampers informed decision-making, making it difficult to create effective policies that consider various factors influencing migration, including economic conditions and social issues.
The absence of a common database complicates collaboration among government ministries, NGOs, and international organizations as well as migrant workers. This disjointed approach can result in duplicated efforts and conflicting strategies.
Inadequate Response to Trafficking: Traffickers often exploit gaps in information and coordination among agencies. A centralized database could enhance efforts to identify trafficking patterns, track victims, and provide timely assistance.
The Way Forward
To address these pressing issues, Uganda must stand tall to consider establishing a National Migrant Workers Umbrella Body that consolidates data from various sources into a single platform not only relying on recruitment agencies’ fragmented data and eemis system of Ministry of Gender. Such an initiative would:
- Encourage collaboration among government ministries (such as Internal Affairs and Foreign Affairs), Migrant Workers’ leadership, NGOs, and international organizations to share relevant data on migrant workers.
- Provide a unified reporting mechanism that captures all aspects of labor migration, including registered and unregistered migrants.
- Enable policymakers to access comprehensive data for evidence-based decision-making regarding labor migration policies.
- Improve the ability to monitor migration trends and trafficking activities through better data visibility.
As Uganda prepares to launch a new Migrant Welfare Program aimed at benefiting Ugandan migrant workers, it is crucial that this initiative is supported by a national consolidated database.
Without accurate data and governance on beneficiaries—who are the national migrant workers—the program’s effectiveness will be severely compromised.
The welfare program must include provisions for pre-departure training that covers labor rights, safe migration practices including meticulous airports and all border screening for all potential migrant youths , and legal procedures.
Additionally, it should offer ongoing support services for migrants abroad, ensuring they have access to necessary resources and assistance when needed.
The recent cases of Ugandan citizens trapped abroad highlight the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in labor migration management.
By establishing a National Migrant Workers Umbrella Body and integrating data collection efforts across various agencies, Uganda can enhance protections for its citizens abroad while effectively combating human trafficking.
The upcoming Migrant Welfare Program presents an opportunity to implement these changes; however, its success hinges on having accurate and comprehensive data on all Ugandan migrant workers.
It is imperative that stakeholders come together to ensure the safety and well-being of Ugandans working abroad.
The author is the president, Migrant Workers’ Voice
www.migrantworkersvoice.org
