Strengthening Protection Through Budget Justice: Reflections from Our High-Level Dialogue on Labour Externalisation

Yesterday, 27th February, Voices for Labour convened a high-level multi-stakeholder dialogue bringing together Members of Parliament, civil society organisations, trade unions, and representatives from key government ministries to examine a pressing national issue: the persistent funding gaps affecting labour externalisation and migrant worker protection in Uganda’s National Budget Framework Paper for FY 2026/27.

The dialogue was convened against the backdrop of Uganda’s growing labour migration programme and the undeniable contribution migrant workers make to the country’s economy. Yet, as discussions underscored, these economic gains are not sufficiently matched by investments in protection systems. Participants critically analysed the current allocation trends under the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and reflected on how underfunding continues to undermine oversight, regulation, consular support, and access to justice for Ugandan migrant workers—particularly women deployed to the Gulf States.

A central feature of the engagement was the presentation and discussion of a Joint Civil Society Position Paper outlining clear, evidence-based proposals for securing adequate and ring-fenced financing for labour externalisation. The paper highlights the mismatch between the revenue generated from labour migration and the limited reinvestment into worker protection mechanisms.

Importantly, the dialogue moved beyond diagnosis to action.

The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Gender and Labour welcomed the proposals and committed to providing Voices for Labour with an official slot to present the Joint Position Paper before the full Committee. This marks a significant step toward ensuring that civil society recommendations inform parliamentary deliberations during the remaining stages of the budget process.

Civil society organisations and trade unions present at the dialogue also reaffirmed their commitment to sustained collaboration. There was a shared resolve to coordinate advocacy efforts, engage policymakers strategically, and maintain collective pressure to ensure that funding for labour externalisation and migrant worker protection is meaningfully increased in the FY 2026/27 budget.

The dialogue concluded with agreed joint action points and a renewed sense of solidarity. Protecting Ugandan migrant workers is not merely a policy issue—it is a question of dignity, justice, and national accountability. Voices for Labour remains committed to working alongside Parliament, government institutions, and civil society partners to ensure that Uganda’s labour migration system is not only economically beneficial, but also rights-based, adequately financed, and protective of those who power it.