Employers bodies promise to improve working conditions
Aug 08, 2010
COMPANIES have been urged to incorporate practices that promote safety and health of workers, because “a safe and secure workforce is likely to be more productive than the one that is not.â€
By David Ssempijja
COMPANIES have been urged to incorporate practices that promote safety and health of workers, because “a safe and secure workforce is likely to be more productive than the one that is not.â€
It is upon this background that a partnership betwen Uganda, Norway and China was signed to lobby private and public employers to improve the working conditions of their employees.
“If employees’ lives are well-taken care of, they feel a sense of ownership in the company. This translates into a more positive attitude towards work, hence improved productivity,†the Chinese ambassador to Uganda, Sun Heping, said while opening a seminar on the importance of ensuring occupational safety and health for workers at the Commonwealth Resort Munyonyo in Kampala.
He added that the co-operation between labour rights bodies of the three countries would create an environment for lobbying firms to ensure workers operate with in the UN labour guidelines.
The bodies are the Federation of Uganda Employers, China Enterprise Confederation and the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise Labour Organisation.
“We are in the process of translating our laws into foreign languages starting with Chinese to understand safety issues and boost implementation,†Rosemary Senabulya, the Federation of Uganda Employers chief executive, said.
Eng. Martin Kasekende, the federation chairperson, said increased awareness of labour laws is important as it empowers workers to advocate for their rights.
COMPANIES have been urged to incorporate practices that promote safety and health of workers, because “a safe and secure workforce is likely to be more productive than the one that is not.â€
It is upon this background that a partnership betwen Uganda, Norway and China was signed to lobby private and public employers to improve the working conditions of their employees.
“If employees’ lives are well-taken care of, they feel a sense of ownership in the company. This translates into a more positive attitude towards work, hence improved productivity,†the Chinese ambassador to Uganda, Sun Heping, said while opening a seminar on the importance of ensuring occupational safety and health for workers at the Commonwealth Resort Munyonyo in Kampala.
He added that the co-operation between labour rights bodies of the three countries would create an environment for lobbying firms to ensure workers operate with in the UN labour guidelines.
The bodies are the Federation of Uganda Employers, China Enterprise Confederation and the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise Labour Organisation.
“We are in the process of translating our laws into foreign languages starting with Chinese to understand safety issues and boost implementation,†Rosemary Senabulya, the Federation of Uganda Employers chief executive, said.
Eng. Martin Kasekende, the federation chairperson, said increased awareness of labour laws is important as it empowers workers to advocate for their rights.