Strict job experience hindering Buliisa locals from tapping into oil opportunities
Local leaders have called for inclusive policies that address barriers like experience requirements and promote opportunities for skills development and local enterprise participation.
Buliisa: Residents of Butiaba Sub-County in Buliisa District have voiced frustrations over the strict job experience requirements imposed by oil companies during their recruitment processes.
This issue was highlighted recently during a community engagement on the promotion of national content, organized by the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) in Butiaba Town Council.
Mustafa Mboineki, a resident of Butiaba Town Council, expressed dissatisfaction with the recruitment criteria, noting that despite meeting the educational and training qualifications, many job seekers are turned away for lack of prior experience.
“Most youth have been trained in various fields like driving, welding, and others, but they are not given an opportunity to work and gain experience,” Mboineki lamented.
Moses Asaba Awera, the LC3 Chairperson of Butiaba Town Council, urged oil companies to prioritize the host community in employment opportunities.
He also advocated for host communities to be allowed to supply foodstuffs and other resources to the oil companies, emphasizing that such engagements could enable them to benefit directly and indirectly from the oil and gas sector.
“If companies don’t work closely with the locals, they will face challenges. But if they collaborate with us, they will be safe,” Awera cautioned.
Meanwhile, Bintu Peter Kenneth, Enterprise Development Officer at the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), pointed out that not all jobs in the sector require experience. He encouraged locals to apply for unskilled positions and seek opportunities matching their qualifications.
Bintu also advised farmers to form associations, as collective efforts are more likely to meet the supply demands of oil companies. “It’s hard to deal with individuals, but associations make it easier to grab opportunities in the oil sector,” Bintu noted.
The event underscored the need for a balanced approach to recruitment and community engagement, ensuring that host communities benefit from oil activities while meeting industry standards.
Local leaders have called for inclusive policies that address barriers like experience requirements and promote opportunities for skills development and local enterprise participation.
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