Challenges of migrant workers in the oil and gas sector in Uganda: a critical analysis of the labour law framework

Abstract

Uganda discovered large quantities of commercial oil in the Albertine Graben region in 2006. Since then, Uganda embarked on processes of putting in place legal, policy and institutional frameworks to facilitate and support the management and regulation of the oil and gas sector. The discovery of commercially viable oil deposits in the country raised public expectation about the socio-economic benefits that would emerge from such a resource. Ugandans are hopeful that the oil activities would improve their socio-economic status and livelihoods through providing employment opportunities, provide market for their products and also spur the development of the country. In Uganda, the oil and gas sector currently employs about 13,607 people, 10% of whom are migrant workers. This number is likely to increase as the country commences oil exploration activities in 2025. This study examined the challenges that migrant oil workers in Uganda face in the country. It reviewed the labour law framework in Uganda, and analysed the effectiveness of the laws, policies and institutions that govern, manage and regulate migrant workers in the country. To understand the issues of migrant workers in the country better, the study involved interviewing officials from the Ministries of Energy and Mineral Development, Internal Affairs, and particularly the Department of Immigration, Petroleum Authority of Uganda, the oil companies, and selected migrant workers. The study noted that whereas the country has put in place laws, policies and institutions that govern, manage and regulate the recruitment and work of migrant workers in Uganda, they face challenges. These challenges range from the bureaucracies and delays in approving work permits, limited monitoring of migrant workers’ rights, lack of a trade union bringing together migrant workers, limited knowledge by the local population on the grounds for hiring migrant workers, among others. The study recommended the need to strengthen monitoring of the rights of migrant workers, sensitization of the local population to understand the grounds for recruiting expatriates so as to ensure harmonious co-existence between the local people and the migrant workers, prioritization of migrant workers’ rights in the key instruments such as that of OPEC, ratification of the ILO instruments by Uganda, among others.