By Jumah Kakomo
The Opposition Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party says there is still need for various interventions to be done to make International Labour, and World press freedom days more meaningful.
The message comes just a few days to commemoration of these days on 1st/05/2024, (International Labour Day), and on 03/05/2024, (World Press freedom day). International Labour Day will be marked at Mukabura Grounds, Fort Portal City under the theme “improving access to labour justice; a prerequisite for increased productivity”,
Addressing the media at party headquarters Kampala on Wednesday, the party spokesperson Arach Oyat Sharon noted that UPC believes that the theme can only make meaning when strict observance to labour standards, laws and justice in all working environments as well as ensuring harmonious labour relationship between the employer and employee is thoroughly paid saying this can effectively facilitate efficiency and productivity at work.
She however, revealed that the reality on the ground is totally different! The workers are starved of labour, social and economic justice.
“Our workplaces need to advance the principles of equity, respect of rights, fairness and dignity of workers as well as access to resources” Sharon added.
Sharon also expressed concerns such as at the height of violation of worker’s rights such as long working hours with low wages, lack of personal protective gears, and taking months without pay among other conditions of service wondering why the Government labor officers no longer make on spot checks to factories and bring culprits to book.
She added that the above speaks as to why majority of the employers are not comfortable with having workers who are members of trade unions which she says leads to violation of worker’s rights by employers and neglect of their concerns or complaints.
“This automatically slows down the morale of workers thus indirectly or directly affecting productivity. Some have lost their lives in such circumstances! The Party urges both Government and social partners to fulfill their obligations and ensure that all workers get justice at work” Sharon added.
The party head of communications and media Faizo Muzeyi said UPC has noted with concern that most of the employees in the labour force are treated as casual workers. Such a status of casual worker cannot lead to increased productivity and gainful income.
Majority of the workers do not know their rights and upon retirement from active service, a challenge of old age steps in without any social security fund as only 14.5% of the employers pay National Social Security Fund (NSSF) for the employees, National Labour Force Survey (2021).
“We need to re-address this challenge by seeking labour justice that can help in formal appointments with agreed terms/conditions of service. UPC believes that if we can observe social justice, economic justice and labour justice, then we will realize high productivity” Faizo added.
He says that the question of accelerating massive youth unemployment speaks to the country’s failure to progress towards desired prosperity. The initiated poverty eradication programs for the youths seem not to be playing any magic which he says needs to be addressed seriously.
However, he appealed to the government to fast-track programmes that directly alleviate unemployment. These include; apprenticeship programme, Jua -Kali support programme, national productivity center, elimination of child labour, school dropout programme, effective utilization of youth labour force for wealth creation programmes.
In the same vein, Arach Oyat Sharon says UPC is equally making a recommendation that the industrial court that is mandated to handle worker’s cases should be well facilitated and staffed so as to be very much efficient and effective with no backlog cases saying if fully adhered to, it meets the demands of the theme for International Labour Day, “improving access to labour justice; a prerequisite for increased productivity”.
