Employee insurance can help reduce cost of compensation payouts

Although companies and employers have means of providing incentives for their workers in case of sickness, these are short term arrangements which usually result into misunderstandings.

While employers pay for treatment of their workers who fall sick or get accidents while on job, the support is not sustainable leaving those who get permanent injuries to cry foul over compensation.

However, a number of employers have on several occasions been accused of failing and or neglecting victims of accidents that befell them while on duty; a condition that attracts public debate and uproars.

Activists and advocates of workers say the issue of compensation can be solved without the employers and their subordinates disagreeing.
Usher Wilson Owere, the president General of the National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU) says time has come when employers should enforce the Workers’ Compensation Act by way of insuring their workers.

“Accidents can happen anytime but if employees are insured, the employer is not overburdened because the compensation side is catered for by the insurance firm. This will protect peoples’ interests and relationships,” says Mr Owere adding that last month he accompanied a former worker of Roofings Limited to demand for compensation which had delayed.

He explains that by insuring the workers, productivity at a given workplace will be high after employees knowing that they are catered for.
Ms Lilliane Keane Mugerwa, the Executive Director of Platform for Labour Action (PLA) labour rights advocacy organization appeals that employers are required by law to insure their workers to access compensation in case of injury.
“Good employers have insured their workers but there are those who have deliberately refused and they are taking the advantage that most of the workers are not aware of the laws,” says Mr Mugerwa.

She says that while PLA is seeks to respond to the absence of an appropriate voice to address the rights of and issues facing marginalized workers, especially women, youth and children, there is need for mass mobilization of workers to understand their right.

According to Ms Mugerwa, the law mandates a worker to sue their employers; “And at PLA, we offer free legal services to assist people get their rights.”
On November 13, one person died and three others injured after an explosion at a bakery in Kazinga Zone, Bweyogerere. However, there were no comments as regards compensation of the injured and the dead person.

According to Mr Owere, NOTU has started a process funding accident victims to facilitate their movements while demanding for their compensation and encourage other people to join unions.

“We are encouraging unions and affiliates at all levels to create and make awareness of safety at workplace paramount for the betterment of peoples’ lives. We are doing this through training of leaders on occupation health and safety and we are intensifying our mobilization strategy to recruit more people into the unions,” Mr Owere said.

He added that currently, the transport union has recruited over 2000 members and sensitizing them on the benefits of unions.
State Minister for Elderly and Disability, Mr Sulaiman Madada said on Wednesday that there is an increase in oppression of workers leading to death of others.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ dialogue on precautious work in Kampala, Mr Madada said most people are desperate to get employed hence rushing into getting casual jobs which pose a threat to their lives.

“Until the workers learn to advocate for their rights, they will continue to face oppression at their work places.
The legislations protecting workers are already in place though they have not been adequately enforced,” he added.

ekasozi@ug.nationmedia.com