As we celebrate the international Youth day, Ugandan unemployed youth have been advised to embrace Labour externalization in order to positively change their lives.
While talking to one of the many Ugandan youths working in Abu Dhabi, UAE; labour externalization is the way to go since one is guaranteed of better pay and perfect working conditions.
Tumutegyerize Chris is a Ugandan who was born in Mbarara district and shared with our reporter his journey to Abu Dhabi and why his fellow youth should borrow a leaf.
Chris’ Journey To Abu Dhabi
Tumutegyerize Chris who is married with three kids says he chose to go to Abu Dhabi after he realized that his teaching job could not sustain him, his family and other dependants.
“I am a secondary school teacher by profession and teaching did not yield much to sustain my family,” explains Chris before adding that “I may 2018 I decided to go to Abu Dhabi and seek for green pastures.”
“I went through the right procedure as tabled by Uganda Association of External Recruitment Agencies and a job to work in a supermarket was secured through a genuine and licensed Labour exporting firm based in Kampala.
“On May 15, 2018 I left Uganda for Abu Dhabi and I am still here working well.”
On getting to Abu Dhabi, Chris says he was warmly welcomed by his employers and the working conditions are excellent.
“The life in Abu dhabi is not bad only that you need to get used to the climate which is different from the one in Uganda,” says Chris.
He further emphasized that; “With the year I have spent here and with the team that I went with, we have never faced any problem. We are in good condition; we work well and we are loved.”
Abu Dhabi Journey Becomes Chris’ Turning Point
Chris says that ever since he started working in Abu Dhabi, over 70% of his life has positively changed.
“Ever since I went to Abu Dhabi to work, my life has changed over 70% has positively changed in my life and family.
“I have put some businesses with my wife, we now have a retail shop which we didn’t have before I went.
“We bought a plot of land in Nyenje village, Mukono district and we are building a permanent residential house.”
Chris happily says that everything is changing for the better at home, his kids are going to good schools and he is able to even support his relatives.
Advice To The Youths
Chris’ pole advice to the youths is to never give up in life and they should never despise jobs.
“Never give up on yourself, take any job opportunity that comes your way,” advised Chris.
Chris also said that youth should embrace labour Externalization since it’s the best way to reduce the unemployment gap that is a bit huge in Uganda.
He also encouraged the youth to go to genuine and licensed labour export companies that are registered with their umbrella body, Uganda Association of External Recruitment Agencies.
UAERA On Reducing Unemployment
To reduce unemployment, labour migration has been looked at as one of the best options and indeed this system is making wonders.
The Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development put in place opportunities that streamlined access to decent employment opportunities for its nationals abroad.
Decent employment opportunities have been advertised through genuine recruitment agencies under the supervision of their umbrella body, Uganda Association of External Recruitment Agencies.
With Uganda Association of External Recruitment Agencies in place, protection of migrant workers, observation of their human rights and welfare in accordance with the international labour standards have been observed and this has helped many Ugandans work abroad and remit money home which has improved the lives of their families and relatives.
Currently, Uganda has over 140,000 Ugandans, working in the Middle East.
Over US $ 500,000,000 (Five Hundred Million) is remitted annually by these migrant workers. US$ 870,000,000 (Eight Hundred Seventy Million dollars) is remitted to Uganda Annually from other parts of the world.
This accounts for US $ 1,370,000,000 (One Billion, Three hundred Seventy Million dollars) of remittances from all over the world to Uganda a substantial contribution to our Economy.