Uganda has imposed a ban on maids going to work in Saudi Arabia following complaints of mistreatment and poor living conditions until an environment ‘deemed fitting’ is guaranteed by the Kingdom’s authorities.
The move violates a deal struck between the two nations to allow university graduates to make the trip as a means of addressing high unemployment rate among young people in Uganda.
According to the Ugandan Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Welfare, the ban comes as a result of an audio recording circulating on social media of Ugandans in Saudi Arabia alleging they are being ill-treated.
According to official Ugandan figures, some 500 housemaids have arrived in the Kingdom since the deal took effect.
Ugandan Ambassador to the Kingdom, Rashid Yahya Ssemuddu, told Al-Eqtesadiah, a sister publication of Arab News, that the decision to stop sending housemaids to Saudi Arabia is temporary.
“It has been stopped for a short time until some outstanding problems are sorted out,” the envoy said.
“We have to ensure the rights and privileges of both employer and employees for better operations,” the ambassador added pointing out that Uganda wants to set up a joint electronic system to streamline the recruiting system between the two countries.
The ban echoes a 2014 moratorium imposed following complaints of Ugandan girls being turned into sex slaves in Kuwait.
Parliament has handled a number of petitions by Ugandans who are taken by labour-exporting firms to work, especially in the Middle East.
The first such petition was in 2009, against Uganda Veterans Ltd., where girls who were taken to Iraq to work in American bases ended up being distributed to Iraqi families, where they claim to have suffered gross abuse without pay.
The girls said their documents were confiscated immediately upon arrival, and that they are frequently made to do different work to that which has been agreed.
