Parliament has instructed the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development to present status reports of all labour exporting companies before investigations into fake companies commence.
The decision was made by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah following a request by Mukono Municipality lawmaker Betty Nambooze to suspend all licences of labour exporting companies in Uganda.
While appearing at the floor of Parliament on Thursday Nambooze said that over 53 girls are stranded at the Ugandan Embassy in Abu Dhabi. However, the Ugandan embassy has instructed the girls to pay over Shs1.5m to cater for their transport back home.
“Earlier last week 23 girls were deported to Kampala in poor health conditions. In this case, I humbly request Parliament to suspend licences of all labour exporters. Secondly, I also request the Ministry of Labour to directly negotiate the travel arrangement instead of companies,” said Nambooze.
Reacting to her plea, Oulanyah said that Ugandans should not suffer at the embassy yet the use of an embassy in the foreign the land is to help its citizens in that land.
Oulanyah requested the responsible Ministry to present details of every company that exports labour before matters get worse.
“This is our role and we have to protect our people. However before we debate on this matter I would request the Ministry in charge to present reports regarding the status of all labour exporting companies before the final resolution is made, ” said Oulanyah.
Kagadi Woman MP Jennifer Mbabazi supported Nambooze.
“This is a serious matter. Our children are suffering, this is slavery, I demand also a quick response, this is not the first time we hear this,” she said adding that even the owners of the companies must be investigated and have their profiles.
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