Social reintegration and life satisfaction among Uganda migrant worker returnees from Middle East

Abstract

Purpose: The current study was undertaken to establish the contribution of social reintegration and life satisfaction of Ugandan migrant worker returnees from Middle East. Its objectives main objective was to analyse the influence of social reintegration on life satisfaction among Uganda migrant worker returnees from Middle East. Materials and Methods: In an effort to address the set objectives, a cross-sectional survey design which followed both quantitative and qualitative research approaches was adopted. Data was collected from a total quantitative sample of 218 Ugandan migrant worker returnees from Middle East. A qualitative sample of 25 managers of registered labour export companies and ministry officials in Uganda was determined by saturation point approach. The data was analysed at descriptive and inferential level. Quantitative and qualitative research were used because they are complementary methods that work well together to provide insights that are both deep and wide.The key references in the study are by (Nimkar, R., Savage, E., Tesfalidet, I., & Adugna, G. (2020)) who revealed that that having a safe, satisfactory and affordable place to live is critical to successful reintegration. Findings: The study findings show a poor life satisfaction amongst the respondent Ugandan migrant worker returnees (Mean = 2.63, SD = 1.53). Such poor life satisfaction were in terms of the returnees not being self-sufficient upon returning, poor intention to return guided by achieving the migration objectives, life not being close to ideal in several ways and rarely having a safe, satisfactory and affordable place to live. The respondents also reported not satisfied with their well-being, with life conditions of poor and rarely secure a means of livelihood. The respondents equally reported rarely holding a stock of incomes alongside the savings and to date not getting the basic things needed in life. The study concluded that that sufficient evidence demonstrates a significant relationship exists between social reintegration and life satisfaction among Uganda migrant worker returnees from Middle East. These results shows that the more the social reintegration, the better the level of life satisfaction among Uganda migrant worker returnees from Middle East and vice versa. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Finally, the policy makers at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social developmenteed develop a well-informed local understandable framework and strategy for assessment of performance of government and external labour recruitment organisations in as far as migrant reintegration programmes are concerned for enhanced social reintegration.