Enforce labour laws to improve welfare of Uganda’s work force
What you need to know:
- Therefore, the government has the capacity to use all its agencies to implement the Labour Act indiscriminately so as to improve on the appalling work condition of our labour force.
- Besides implementing labour laws, the government should as a matter of priority put in place the minimum wage so as to improve the welfare of labour force.
- This should be immediate considering that other East Africa member countries, including Kenya and Tanzania, have already put in place a minimum wage policy.
Uganda on Monday, May 1 joined the rest of the world to celebrate the International Labour Day at a ceremony held in Pallisa District. During the celebrations, President Museveni, who was the chief guest, hinted on key government plans of fighting unemployment, including revamping the defunct industries and attracting more investors to build more industries. This would create employment opportunities for our skilled and unskilled labour force.
However, my concern is the welfare of the already employed labour force. There is a call to government and Parliament to enact a minimum wage law to gives equitable pay for the labour force across board. This would be a significant step towards improving the welfare of the labour force to meet the current economic hardship in the country.
However, lack of implementation of the current Employment Act of 2006 by different government agencies is making errant employers to exploit their employees. The Act provides for inspection of work environment by labour officers, contacts and general welfare of employees among others. But due to laxity to implement this Act, employers are using this to exploit their employees through unlawful termination of work, long hours of work, sexual harassment and working in hazardous environment without protective gears, among others.
Therefore, the government has the capacity to use all its agencies to implement the Labour Act indiscriminately so as to improve on the appalling work condition of our labour force.
Besides implementing labour laws, the government should as a matter of priority put in place the minimum wage so as to improve the welfare of labour force. This should be immediate considering that other East Africa member countries, including Kenya and Tanzania, have already put in place a minimum wage policy.
