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The Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, Hon Betty Amongi Akena, signed a Bilateral Labour Agreement with Qatar to facilitate safe labour externalization. Over 30,000 Ugandans work in Qatar, prompting the need for organized migration mechanisms.

The Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Hon Betty Amongi Akena on 2^nd April 2024 signed a Bilateral Labour Agreement between the government of the State of Qatar and the government of Uganda to facilitate safe & formal labour externalisation to Qatar.

In her speech, Hon. Betty Amongi appreciated her colleague H.E Ali Bin Samikh Al Marri, the Minister of Labour of the State of Qatar for the hospitality and friendly gesture exhibited to the delegation of Uganda.

The Minister noted that over 30.000 Ugandans are working in Qatar, hence the need to sign an agreement to enable an organised formal mechanism of Labour migration. She welcomed the proposal from her counterpart for them to immediately establish a Joint technical committee to fast-track implementation of the agreement. They both agreed for a follow up meeting on 27th May, 2024, to assess the initial progress for the take-off phase of implementing the agreement. The agreement enables externalising skilled, semi-skilled and domestic workers.

The two Ministers agreed on the need to monitor recruitment agencies in Qatar to ensure that they respect Ugandan worker’s rights, welfare, contractual obligation and ensuring that recruitment companies abide by what is contained in the agreement. Details of the agreement will be shared.