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Musa Okello chairman general of the National Organization of Trade Union has expressed concern over the continued failure of workers to benefit from the government's anti-poverty programs.

During the National Labor Day celebration in Fort Portal, earlier today May 1st Musa said that affirmative action has been championed to cater to other groups and categories of people, the workers have missed out on many government schemes.

"We have been excluded from programs like Emyooga, and the Parish Development Model, among others. As we celebrate our day-to-day, we plead to be reconsidered" Musa said during the event at St. Leo Kyegobe grounds where President Yoweri Museveni was the Chief Guest.

Musa described the outsourcing of jobs in Uganda as precarious with no social protection, and job security.

"This can't help to alleviate poverty," he remarked. 

He also decried what he termed as impunity of some employers whom he said pay less for too much work that their employers deliver. 

"We need equal pay for work of equal value. We also need fair treatment and a safe working environment for all" he said.

The workers noted with concern the new trade of labor export which Okello termed as inhuman.

"The inhuman treatment in the labor export is on the rise and needs to be regulated to secure those Ugandans who are in the hands of the wrong people,"  he told the large gathering. 

He also reported to the president that whereas the government established an industrial court in 2014 it is suffering from a case backlog 

According to Okello, the industrial court receives over 2000 cases annually.

"Currently the industrial court has a case backlog of over 3000 cases and this is due to having very thin staff on the ground," he said

According to Okello, the industrial court currently has only only two judges out of the required five, and only one court registrar out of the required three.