East African Gazette
Kampala
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has asked the Ugandan government to have a minimum wage for the workers, to stop exploitation of employers through underpayment of wages given the high cost of living.
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Besides underpayment, ILO demands the government to explain why it has not honored to file returns of court rulings in regard to the workers despite several requests from ILO.
Alex Nkosi, the Coordinator of the Human Trade Union Rights migration peace and security International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) wants the government of Uganda to have a minimum wage like other countries in the East African Community (EAC).
Nkosi said the government should work with the labour unions to formulate coherent, comprehensive, consistent, and transparent policies in line with (ILO)standards for better protection of workers’ rights.
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“This year Uganda will have to explain to the ILO Committee of Standards regarding the Court returns on workers issues and why they have not implemented the minimum wage. In the EAC it is only Uganda which has not implemented ILO request” Nkosi said.
He made remarks during a press briefing at a Legal Clinic workshop aimed at strengthening labour rights organized by National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU), International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) at Hotel Africana-Kampala 12 April.
“We have noticed that the issue of collective bargaining is shrinking in the African continent. Therefore, as an organization that is dealing with the issue of the workers we have organized a training for the Union leaders in Uganda,” he said.
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He added that because of this, they found it necessary to organize training with NOTU leadership.
He said there is a need for the Union leaders to see how they can use the ILO convention to benefit the workers..
Richard Bigirwa, Secretary General of NOTU, emphasized the importance of the Legal Clinic in light of recent developments in Uganda.
Bigirwa said with the new NOTU leadership, knowledge is fundamental for labor standards reviews, amendments of labour laws and policies are for workers to enjoy their rights at workplaces.
“We shall ensure lawyers representing workers in the Court
of Appeal are aware of the ILO convention and labour laws. On many occasions we have lost court cases at the Court of Appeal” he said.
Annet Birungi the board member of the National Social Security Fund said the creation of the Industrial Supreme Court was
a good idea that will bring on board the legal fraternity specialized in workers issues and labour laws.
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Birungi said the idea of creation of legal clinics at work places will ease solving workers’ issues who have been spending a lot of time in the courts.
However, the Byakatonda Abdulhu Workers MP said they should request for an engagement with President Museveni in regard to the wage bill.
Byakatonda said once a bill has been passed by parliament and the President fails to ascertain it becomes a law automatically.
He appealed to the parent ministry to advise the government over the matter.
“Why is it that our neighbours have the minimum wage ? Let us have the minimum wage so that they stop cheating people with unfair wages for their labour” he asked.
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The Africa Regional Human and Trade Union Rights officer, Zakeyo Mutimtema said that some of the laws were put in place by the colonial masters and it is high time we do away with laws that affect our people.
Mutimtema said they thanked the government of Uganda for ratifying the
ILO conventions but asked them to honor and ensure workers’ rights are protected with the fair wage for their labour..
“We have received reports on child labour where young children being employed violating their rights. The ILO defines a person eligible for employment and in Uganda a person between 0-17 years is a child” Mutimtema said.
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