Yasiin Mugerwa
24 October 2008
The government yesterday defended the salary cut for Ugandans working in Iraq and announced a new salary structure of $600 (aboutShs1.2m) per month.
The State Minister for Labour, Mr Mwesigwa Rukutana, told Daily Monitor yesterday that due to the forces of demand and supply the companies were unable to maintain the $1,000 (Shs1.97m) salary.
"Our people need employment and there has been a persistent salary reduction from $1,000 to now $600," Mr Rukutana said. "Other countries like Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and others are willing to send their labour force at $500."
Mr Rukutana said despite the salary cut, the number of Ugandans working in Iraq has increased from 8,000 to 12,000 to date. In March Mr Rukatana said,"We have between 5,000-8,000 Ugandans in Iraq on guard duties. As a country we are happy that Ugandans have continued to be contracted to work in Iraq and we are happy with the way they have been treated."
Mr Rukutana denied reports that Ugandans in Iraq are victims of human trafficking, mistreated and that their contracts are changed at will. "The new salaries we signed do not affect the running contracts. We have told companies that when running contracts expired, they should be negotiated and we have copies to monitor their operation as well," he said.
He said the mistreatment of Ugandans in Iraq was investigated and the problem solved. "There is absolutely no mistreatment and terms of service are monitored closely. We want our people to get jobs because in Uganda $600 is lot of money," Mr Rukutana said.
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