Burundi : workers sent abroad “trapped” by agencies, exploitative practices denounced

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, August 2, 2026 – On the occasion of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, celebrated every July 30, the Association for the Fight Against Unemployment and Torture (ALUCHOTO) has raised the alarm about the resurgence of trafficking and exploitation of workers in Burundi.

Burundi has 64 recruitment agencies legally recognized by the State to place workers abroad. In recent years, household poverty and unemployment, compounded by economic hardship and violations of workers’ rights, have driven not only young people, but also individuals from various social backgrounds, to seek employment opportunities in foreign countries in the sub-region, Southern Africa, and the Gulf States.

This quest for a better future, however, exposes some candidates to the risk of exploitation, particularly when recruitment conditions, employment contracts, or the realities of the host country are not clearly explained before their departure.

During a press conference held in Bujumbura, Burundi’s commercial capital, on Thursday, Vianney Ndayisaba, the national coordinator of ALUCHOTO, denounced alleged abuses committed by certain security companies and recruitment agencies that send Burundians to work abroad.

According to him, many Burundian workers are unaware of the clauses in their employment contracts, a situation that exposes them to violations of their rights. He specifically cited certain security companies, including City Security Company, as well as placement agencies that recruit workers to send to countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (Dubai), Kenya, the Sultanate of Oman, and Zambia.

Job promises that sometimes turn into nightmares

Vianney Ndayisaba states that some agencies promise candidates decent jobs abroad, but that the reality experienced by many workers is quite different.

“Those who manage to leave the country are sometimes subjected to inhumane working conditions,” he said.

The national coordinator of ALUCHOTO indicates that in 2026, his organization facilitated the repatriation of 22 women who had allegedly been abandoned and mistreated in their host countries.

He adds that 11 other people were also allegedly illegally detained by recruitment agencies after their travel documents were confiscated.

People with disabilities also at risk

The association also denounces another form of trafficking related to the exploitation of people living with disabilities.

According to ALUCHOTO, some people with disabilities are allegedly used to beg in the streets and markets, a practice that the organization describes as a serious violation of human dignity.

Sanctions called against fraudulent agencies

In response to this situation, ALUCHOTO is calling on the Burundian government to strengthen its fight against human trafficking.

The organization recommends launching judicial investigations to identify and prosecute recruitment agencies involved in fraudulent practices or the exploitation of workers.

It also advocates for stricter controls on the licensing of foreign placement agencies and rigorous monitoring of contracts signed with workers to ensure compliance with the Burundian Labor Code.

Furthermore, the association believes that companies employing workers without providing them with sufficient legal protection should be sanctioned, or even shut down.

Finally, it recommends that the reading and explanation of the employment contract be made mandatory, in the presence of the competent authorities, before any departure abroad, so that workers are aware of their rights and the conditions to which they are agreeing.

IOM calls for strengthened protection of trafficking victims

On the occasion of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reiterates that trafficking constitutes a grave violation of human rights and that migrants seeking economic opportunities remain particularly vulnerable to exploitation networks.

IOM calls on States and their partners to strengthen mechanisms for the prevention, identification, and protection of victims, as well as to guarantee their access to justice. It also emphasizes the need to combat impunity for perpetrators of trafficking and to place victims at the heart of responses to this phenomenon.

Through its alert, ALUCHOTO calls on Burundian authorities and relevant stakeholders to strengthen control and protection mechanisms to prevent all forms of human trafficking and labor exploitation.