Policy brief: Registration, Licensing, and Inspection of Private Recruitment Agencies for Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia

This policy brief examines the registration, licensing, and inspection of private recruitment agencies in Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia to improve regional migration management. The research, based on studies of Ugandan domestic workers in Saudi Arabia, Kenyan migrants in Somalia's education sector, and Ethiopian hospitality workers in South Sudan, identifies key challenges. The brief's findings include that private recruitment agencies face significant constraints, such as extended processing times that exceed client deadlines and erode profit margins. Additionally, government revocation of licenses prevents agencies from performing crucial labour monitoring functions. In the absence of recruitment agencies, employers in Somalia and South Sudan often use professional, social, and family networks to facilitate migration, which can lead to a lack of effective mechanisms for monitoring labour conditions and addressing grievances. To address these issues, the brief recommends that Employers' Business Membership Organizations (EBMOs) advocate for legislative amendments to clarify roles and responsibilities, establish effective grievance mechanisms, and enhance inter-ministerial coordination to streamline licensing processes. It also suggests that EBMOs engage with private recruitment agencies and facilitate dialogue among them.