East African Gazette
Somalia
The chairman General of Somalia Congress of Trade Unions (SOCOTU), Mohamed Osman, has praised the head of Labour Affairs Power House, Usher Wilson Owere, for his continuous support and solidarity towards their union.
“Your leadership and steadfast commitment to fostering unity among trade unions have been instrumental in advancing the collective interests of workers both nationally and internationally,” he said.
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Through their official X account formerly Twitter they wrote: “Your dedication serves as a guiding light for us in the labor movement, and we are profoundly thankful for the invaluable contributions you have made to our shared cause. We are writing to express our deepest gratitude for your unwavering solidarity and support extended by the National Organization of Trade Unions (NOTU).”
Owere is taking a prominent role in championing the rights of Ugandans who served in US peacekeeping missions in Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, asserting that they were unjustly underpaid.
These individuals, who were referred to as security guards, allegedly received inadequate wages for their work.
Owere expressed his delight when contacted.
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According to Owere, he took the initiative to arrange meetings with trade union leaders in Turkey and personally offered his assistance to the young Union national center in Somalia to provide them with support.
He mentioned that they traveled to Somalia with the intention of mentoring the young leaders and providing them guidance on how to establish a relationship with the government.
Furthermore, Owere disclosed that the Turkish Trade Unions played a significant role in influencing their efforts, along with the support received from the Hakis Turkish Trade building headquarters in Mogadishu.
He mentioned that as a Pan African, he is focused on delivering the values of our contribution to the people of Somalia.
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He acknowledged the sacrifice made by the brave soldiers of UPDF in liberating the country. Now, workers’ organizations have the opportunity to contribute to the economy of Somalia.
He stated that every worker who signs a contract is paid what they deserve for their work, unlike the Ugandans who assisted the US in creating peace in nations like Somalia or Iraq and were underpaid.
“Recently there was a standoff between the government of Somalia and the union. We stood with the union and guided them on how to deal with such problems. I am extremely happy the issues were solved through negotiations, he said.