Building Capacity for Change: Uganda's 2nd TWG Meeting on Labour Migration
Enhancing the capacity of the Ministry and other stakeholders for the successful implementation of Uganda’s Labour Migration Information System (LMIS) project
20 November 2023
The 2nd National Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting on Labour Migration Initiatives in Uganda took place in Kampala, Uganda, on November 16, 2023. Organised by the ILO BRMM Programme in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development (MGLSD), the workshop was attended by eighteen participants, including representatives from the MGLSD, Central Organisation Of Free Trade Unions, National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU), Federation of Uganda Employers (FUE), Ministry of Education And Sports, Ministry Of Foreign Affairs, Bank of Uganda, National Planning Authority of Uganda, Uganda Bureau of Statistics, Uganda Association of External Recruitment Agencies, and Migrant Labourers Trainers’ Association (MILTA).
The primary aim of the meeting was to review labour migration projects implementation progress in the country, with special focus on BRMM; identify major challenges and agree on way forwards. The TWG, operating within the framework of the Better Regional Migration Management (BRMM) programme plays a crucial role in overseeing the governance of labour migration in the country.
The meeting commenced with welcoming and opening remarks, setting the tone for discussions that followed. Emphasis was placed on the importance of adhering to international standards in governing the entire labour migration cycle. Stakeholders were reminded of the importance of labour migration and the need for safe and orderly systems to protect the rights of migrants. Ms. Ritah Nakonde from the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development provided insights into non-ILO initiatives, highlighting work by organisations such as IOM and GIZ to assist safe labour migration in Uganda.
During the workshop, Ms Aida Awel, Chief Technical Advisor, BRMM Programme presented the program's accomplishments in 2023, which included providing technical support for the Uganda 2024 Population Census, organising data production workshops, and strengthening key institutions' capacity on Statistical Data and Metadata eXchange (SDMX).
Mr Stuart Oramire and Mr. Milton Turyasiima co-facilitated the discussion on developments in the negotiation of Bilateral Labour Agreements (BLAs). The session stressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's BLA renewal and the ongoing discussions with Jordan, Qatar, and Oman. Moreover, plans for sending skilled labour to developed countries were also indicated.
Mr Milton Turyasiima, Assistant Commissioner of Employment Services at MGLSD, expressed appreciation to the participants in his closing remarks and highlighted the inevitability of labour migration, advocating for its regulation and safety. He informed the stakeholders that the ideas and opinions expressed at the meeting would be carried on to the regional Labour Migration Advisory Group (LMAG). The ILO was thanked for its critical technical and financial assistance to labour initiatives in Uganda.
The meeting concluded with resolutions that underscored the importance of continuing priority interventions identified during the TWG of January 2023, including the formal inclusion of the Migrant Labourers Trainers’ Association (MILTA) in the National TWG and the creation of a discussion forum for improved information sharing by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.
The primary aim of the meeting was to review labour migration projects implementation progress in the country, with special focus on BRMM; identify major challenges and agree on way forwards. The TWG, operating within the framework of the Better Regional Migration Management (BRMM) programme plays a crucial role in overseeing the governance of labour migration in the country.
The meeting commenced with welcoming and opening remarks, setting the tone for discussions that followed. Emphasis was placed on the importance of adhering to international standards in governing the entire labour migration cycle. Stakeholders were reminded of the importance of labour migration and the need for safe and orderly systems to protect the rights of migrants. Ms. Ritah Nakonde from the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development provided insights into non-ILO initiatives, highlighting work by organisations such as IOM and GIZ to assist safe labour migration in Uganda.
During the workshop, Ms Aida Awel, Chief Technical Advisor, BRMM Programme presented the program's accomplishments in 2023, which included providing technical support for the Uganda 2024 Population Census, organising data production workshops, and strengthening key institutions' capacity on Statistical Data and Metadata eXchange (SDMX).
Mr Stuart Oramire and Mr. Milton Turyasiima co-facilitated the discussion on developments in the negotiation of Bilateral Labour Agreements (BLAs). The session stressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's BLA renewal and the ongoing discussions with Jordan, Qatar, and Oman. Moreover, plans for sending skilled labour to developed countries were also indicated.
Mr Milton Turyasiima, Assistant Commissioner of Employment Services at MGLSD, expressed appreciation to the participants in his closing remarks and highlighted the inevitability of labour migration, advocating for its regulation and safety. He informed the stakeholders that the ideas and opinions expressed at the meeting would be carried on to the regional Labour Migration Advisory Group (LMAG). The ILO was thanked for its critical technical and financial assistance to labour initiatives in Uganda.
The meeting concluded with resolutions that underscored the importance of continuing priority interventions identified during the TWG of January 2023, including the formal inclusion of the Migrant Labourers Trainers’ Association (MILTA) in the National TWG and the creation of a discussion forum for improved information sharing by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.