Platform for Labour Action (PLA) has made significant strides in promoting safe and inclusive labour migration in Uganda. Since 2017, PLA has empowered over 20,000 individuals—primarily youth and women—with critical knowledge on labour rights, trafficking risks, and safe migration pathways. Through community awareness campaigns, legal aid, and strategic partnerships, PLA has directly contributed to the protection of migrant workers and the reduction of exploitation.  We shared our impact during the recently concluded Ashoka Fellow Summit under the theme charting the future of Africa and we held a round table discussion on day two of the summit i.e. 11^th September 2025 under the theme Access to Justice and Human rights addressing migration and trafficking.

The Key achievements shared include:

• Legal Aid & Justice Access: 386 migrant workers received legal support, with 70% of exploitation cases resolved.
• Youth Engagement: 7,475 youth educated across 22 institutions on migration risks and reporting mechanisms.
• Female Migrant Preparedness: 2,484 women trained on contracts, rights, and emergency contacts before departure.
• Law Enforcement Training: 102 officers trained, leading to disrupted trafficking networks and improved border vigilance.
• Reintegration Support: 189 returnees supported with skills and entrepreneurship training, with 76% engaged in agribusiness.

PLA’s multi-stakeholder approach, including collaboration with government bodies, and international organizations, has strengthened national coordination and policy advocacy. Continued investment in scaling these interventions is essential to sustain impact and ensure migration becomes a pathway to opportunity, not vulnerability.

The roundtable and Summit Recommendations included the following;

1. Integrate Migration into Cross-Sectoral Development Planning

Recognize and institutionalize the interconnectedness of migration with key development sectors such as health, education, and the environment. Migration policies and programs should be designed to:

• Ensure access to essential health services for migrants.
• Promote educational opportunities for migrant families and returnees.
• Address environmental factors that drive or affect migration patterns.
• Promote access to justice and protection of human rights.

2. Support Movement Building for Inclusive Labour Migration

Promote and invest in movement building initiatives led by changemakers such as Ashoka Fellows and other grassroots innovators working on human rights and access to justice. These movements should:

• Foster collaborative models that scale impact across borders drawing on the PLA shared model and adopt technology to ensure timely legal support. Citizen Gavel PODUS platform is a good mechanism to learn from as part of scaling.
• Advocate for safe, inclusive, and dignified labour migration.
• Facilitate job creation in-country to reduce forced or unsafe migration.

3. Develop and Institutionalize Guidelines for Safe and Inclusive Migration

Empower civil society movements, Ashoka fellows collaboration and diaspora-led initiatives to co-create and shape migration guidelines that:

• Uphold international labour standards and human rights.
• Promote gender-responsive and youth-inclusive migration frameworks.
• Ensure transparency, accountability, and community participation in migration governance.

Our gratitude to the development partners who have enabled us make this contribution over the years namely Anonymous, Democratic Governance Facility (DGF) as it then was and IOM. Our appreciation to Ashoka for creating the space to enable us share our work with fellows across the African continent on this pertinent issue.

For a detailed report, look out for our impact brief in our website publications.

Every day, thousands of Ugandans leave their homes some moving from rural communities to urban centers, others crossing borders in search of better opportunities. For many, labour migration represents hope: a chance to earn, to support families, and to build a better future. Yet, for too many, this dream is cut short by exploitation, unsafe working conditions, and broken promises.

For 25 years, Platform for Labour Action (PLA) has stood at the frontline of protecting and defending Uganda’s workers, with migrant workers at the heart of its interventions. PLA believes no worker should ever have to choose between survival and dignity and for a quarter century, it has worked to ensure rights, justice, and protection for those often silenced or forgotten.

Monica’s Journey: From Migrant Worker to Advocate

The story of Kebirungi Monica, a returnee and now a Social Protection Volunteer at PLA, reveals both the struggles and resilience of Ugandan migrant workers.

“My name is Kebirungi Monica, a former migrant worker. I once worked as a personal assistant in Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, I could not complete my contract due to health complications. When I returned home, I faced so many challenges struggling with my health and also struggling to find a new direction for my life. It was one of the hardest times I have ever faced.” – Monica

Her experience reflects the reality faced by many Ugandan women abroad, where cases of exploitation and even sexual abuse have been reported in the media, including recent BBC coverage.

Yet Monica’s story did not end in despair. Through PLA’s reintegration support and empowerment programs, she found a way to rebuild her life and use her voice to help others.

“PLA gave me training and an opportunity to serve as a Social Protection Volunteer. This role has given me more skills as a social worker, more confidence, and more opportunities to help others in the community. I now guide people on correct migration procedures, on how to do due diligence, and on the importance of reporting suspicious or illegal recruitment practices.” – Monica

25 Years of Standing With Workers

PLA’s legacy over the last 25 years is one of impact, consistency, and courage. From Kampala to rural districts, and from grassroots communities to national and international policy spaces, PLA has positioned itself as a trusted defender of workers’ rights.

For migrant workers, PLA’s work has been especially transformative:

• Raising Awareness: Using community dialogues, radio, social media and TV platforms, PLA educates workers and families about safe migration, labour rights, and available protection services.
• Legal Aid and Justice: PLA provides legal representation, mediation, and psychosocial support for migrant workers in distress.
• Reintegration and Livelihoods: PLA ensures that returnees like Monica are not abandoned. Instead, they are connected to opportunities for skills development, psychosocial support, and entrepreneurship so that returning home becomes a chance to rebuild, not a dead end.
• Policy and Advocacy: As a member of the National Coordination Mechanism on Migration and the National Task Force on Trafficking in Persons, PLA influences policies that strengthen protection frameworks for Uganda’s migrant workers.

Why This Work Matters

Labour migration is not simply about movement; it is about people, their aspirations, and their dignity. For 25 years, PLA has been the voice ensuring that migration is not a path to exploitation but a pathway to empowerment.

Monica, now an advocate in her community, embodies this mission.

“I have been able to help returnees know about the support programs available for them. I also speak with young people who want to travel abroad. I tell them: make sure you do your research, make sure the company is safe, and do not be rushed into risky decisions. Sadly, I have met many people who did not do due diligence and are now suffering some exploited, some trapped, and some who may never return.” – Monica

Her voice is a reminder that every migrant worker matters -their rights, their dignity, and their dreams deserve protection.

A Call to Action

As PLA celebrates 25 years of tireless advocacy, it renews its commitment to Uganda’s workers especially migrant workers whose struggles too often remain invisible.

“To the community and to every returnee out there: continue to chase your dreams. And for those planning to travel, please do your due diligence. If you are struggling, remember there are support networks like PLA where you can find legal aid and reintegration support.” – Monica

For 25 years, PLA has proven that migration can be safe, fair, and dignified. With greater support, it can continue transforming the lives of thousands more workers like Monica.

Authored by Angella Asiimwe, Consulting Blogger under Voice Consults

Hashtag: #PLAat25

For the past 25 years, Platform for Labour Action (PLA) has stood as a beacon of justice for workers in Uganda and beyond, dedicating its efforts to defending the rights of vulnerable and marginalized groups. Founded in 1998, PLA has worked tirelessly to address labour injustices and advance safe, inclusive migration. Its vision has remained consistent: ensuring that every worker whether at home or abroad is treated with dignity, fairness, and respect.

Promoting Safe Labour and Inclusive Migration

Labour migration is a growing reality for many Ugandans, especially youth and women who seek better livelihoods abroad. Yet, as Lydia Bwiite, Manager for Rights, Social Protection, and Accountability at PLA, emphasized in her recent reflection, “labour migration comes with many risks: exploitation, unsafe working conditions, human trafficking, and the denial of basic rights. Migrant workers, especially women, often return home with stories of abuse, unpaid wages, and psychological scars. This is why PLA has made it its mission to advocate for safer labour systems and policies that protect workers throughout the migration journey.”

PLA’s interventions have targeted both structural and immediate barriers faced by migrant workers. From legal aid and psychosocial support for victims of exploitation, to community sensitization on safe migration pathways, and policy advocacy with government and international actors, PLA has been central in creating safer environments for workers. By aligning its work with Uganda’s labour migration frameworks and global commitments such as the ILO conventions, PLA ensures that rights-based principles guide labour mobility.

PLA’s Legacy of 25 Years of Impact

Over the past quarter-century, PLA has translated its vision into tangible impact:

• Policy Advocacy and Reform: PLA has contributed to shaping policies that protect migrant workers, emphasizing gender-sensitive approaches that recognize the disproportionate risks women face.
• Legal Empowerment: Thousands of workers, both in Uganda and returnee migrants, have accessed justice through PLA’s legal aid clinics and strategic litigation efforts.
• Awareness and Education: PLA has led nationwide awareness campaigns to combat exploitation, unsafe migration practices, and human trafficking empowering workers and families with the knowledge needed to make informed choices.
• Partnership Building: By working with trade unions, civil society, government agencies, and international partners, PLA has amplified migrant workers’ concerns in decision-making spaces, ensuring inclusive migration governance.
• Community Impact: Survivors of exploitation supported by PLA have rebuilt their lives through economic empowerment initiatives, psychosocial recovery, and access to social protection systems.

As Lydia Bwiite highlighted, “when we protect migrant workers, we are not just addressing labour rights- we are safeguarding human rights, family welfare, and national development. Migrant workers contribute significantly to Uganda’s economy through remittances, but their wellbeing must come first.”

Looking Ahead: Renewed Commitment

As PLA celebrates 25 years of impact, this milestone is not only a celebration of achievements but also a call to action for the future. The organization is renewing its commitment to championing safe labour migration, tackling new challenges such as digital recruitment scams, climate-induced migration, and the growing informalization of labour.

PLA envisions a Uganda where migration is safe, orderly, and inclusive; where workers’ rights are non-negotiable; and where no worker whether local or migrant is left behind. The next 25 years will build on PLA’s legacy of resilience, partnership, and justice, ensuring that labour rights remain firmly recognized as human rights.

Authored by Angella Asiimwe, Consulting Blogger under Voice Consults

Hashtag: #PLAat25