Burundi minister warns against fake recruiters
Foreign Affairs Minister Édouard Bizimana urges job seekers to verify contracts before leaving Burundi.
Poverty and unemployment in Burundi are pushing citizens to seek work abroad, but fake recruiters are trapping them with false promises. These deceptive agents can lead to joblessness, exploitation, or even recruitment into armed groups. Minister of Foreign Affairs Édouard Bizimana advised job seekers on October 26 to verify their contracts and working conditions before departing.
Bizimana stated that many Burundians discover upon arrival that conditions do not match what was promised, leaving some without employment or at risk of being drawn into armed groups. He recommended that candidates with doubts seek information from competent services before traveling and urged parents to check their children's departure conditions.
The minister also encouraged Burundian workers abroad to register with their country's embassy or diplomatic representation for assistance. This warning comes amid concerns over the practices of migrant worker recruitment agencies in Burundi, with Senate President Gervais Ndirakobuca having previously denounced their proliferation.
Why it mattersBurundian citizens seeking work abroad are being trapped by fake recruiters, facing exploitation or recruitment into armed groups.