By Joan Abaasa
Communications Intern, ICPAU
Hon. Sheilah Kawamara-Mishambi, a specialist in leadership, the Executive Director of the Eastern African Sub-Regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI) has emphasised the need for Ugandan policymakers to prioritise the transition of the labour force from traditional sectors to higher productivity manufacturing and services industries.
Hon. Kawamara was delivering a presentation on the socio-economic benefits and challenges of labour exports, at the 11th CPA Economic Forum of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU).
“When we are talking about sending our labourers, we need to train them. The various sectors, agriculture, industry, mining, transport, trade, domestic work, all require sufficient and efficient workers in order to function well,” Hon. Kawamara said.
She noted that Uganda has various categories of labour, physical and mental, skilled semi-skilled, and unskilled, professional and administrative, and productive labour, among others and all this labour is ready for export.
Labour exports involve sending workers abroad to work in various industries, contributing to both the sending and receiving countries' socio-economic landscapes. The diverse types of labour involved in these exchanges can be broadly categorised into physical and mental labour, skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled labour, professional and administrative labour, and productive and unproductive labour. While labour exports offer several advantages, they also present unique challenges that warrant attention.
Hon. Kawamara highlighted the advantages of labour export, such as the potential to alleviate unemployment and create additional income streams through remittances.
“Expatriate workers send money back home, boosting household incomes, improving living standards, and stimulating local economies,” she said.
She also noted that receiving countries benefit from labour exports by gaining access to a diverse workforce that fills gaps in specific industries, as foreign workers often bring unique skills and perspectives, promoting innovation and economic growth. She also other advantages such as the facilitation of cultural exchange and fostering international relations, further enhancing global cooperation.
Hon. Kawamara mentioned that despite the numerous benefits, labour exports also come with challenges that demand careful management.
“The exporting countries may experience a "brain drain," where skilled professionals emigrate to more prosperous nations, leading to a shortage of expertise in crucial sectors,” she said, and advised that this can be mitigated through the implementation of policies to retain skilled workers and create an environment conducive to professional growth.
She also noted that protecting the well-being and rights of expatriate workers is of utmost importance and measures must be taken to avoid exploitation and abuse, ensuring that workers are treated fairly and their rights respected in destination countries.
Hon. Kawamara shed more light on how Uganda can improve its path to labour exports stating that through implementing necessary reforms and prioritising the protection and welfare of its workforce, Uganda can embrace labour exports as a valuable contributor to its economic growth and development.
She suggested the following recommendations:
- Having labour attachés in the countries of destination.
- Widen the training and skills provision for workers to be more attractive for the international market.
- Ratifying the Domestic Workers Convention (2011) which came into force in 2013.
- Creation of an independent policy for domestic work since the current Employment Act does not cater for them.
- Introducing a minimum wage to address workers’ rights.
- Assessing countries which do not respect workers’ rights and banning labour export to these countries.
- Revision of laws to facilitate social security benefits to include migrant workers
- Strengthening national statistical institutions and data collection to inform labour migration governance.
- Establishing collaboration on diplomatic and consular assistance for migrant workers.
- Registration and regulation of private employment agencies.
The 11th CPA Economic Forum is being held from 19 – 21 July 2023 at the Imperial Resort Beach Hotel, Entebbe, under the theme, National Priorities for Socio-Economic Development.
The CPA Economic Forum was introduced in 2012 to provide a platform for dialogue on matters concerning the economy. From the deliberations policy recommendations are derived, which are forwarded to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, for consideration in the national budgeting processes. The policy recommendations from this Forum are intended for the 2024/25 national budgeting process which commences in September.
