Uganda should address the plight of her workers
Dec 26, 2005
SIR — Recently, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) urged commonwealth governments to take decisive actions that place job creation and decent work at the heart of their poverty-reduction agenda. The ICFTU is a founding partner of the Global Call to Action against Poverty;
SIR — Recently, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) urged commonwealth governments to take decisive actions that place job creation and decent work at the heart of their poverty-reduction agenda. The ICFTU is a founding partner of the Global Call to Action against Poverty; the world’s largest ever campaign for poverty eradication.
To them, however, the importance of ensuring transparent governance and respect for human rights is essential in achieving the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
But how many peasant farmers in the rural settings of Uganda really understand these MDGs?
According to ICFTU’s General Secretary, Guy Ryder, achieving economic prosperity means investing in people, respecting fundamental human rights, including workers’ rights.
Ryder had this to say, “With major trade union rights violations occurring in countries such as Nigeria, Swaziland, Nepal and Uganda, it is more urgent now than ever for CHOGM to take the lead and establish a timeline for ensuring that its members have ratified all core ILO conventions by 2010.
The citizens of Commonwealth countries deserve nothing less than freedom from slavery and child labour and freedom of association, as a minimum.â€
He also noted that without these basic rights, the shackles of poverty will keep millions of Commonwealth citizens without a hope to a decent education, job or health system.
It is widely believed that the challenges commonwealth countries face, ranging from HIV/AIDS to corruption and conflict must be met by a determination on behalf of these governments to act.
If only the Uganda government could properly address the plight of the former Uganda Railways Corporation (URC)!
Julius N. Uma
Kampala
To them, however, the importance of ensuring transparent governance and respect for human rights is essential in achieving the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
But how many peasant farmers in the rural settings of Uganda really understand these MDGs?
According to ICFTU’s General Secretary, Guy Ryder, achieving economic prosperity means investing in people, respecting fundamental human rights, including workers’ rights.
Ryder had this to say, “With major trade union rights violations occurring in countries such as Nigeria, Swaziland, Nepal and Uganda, it is more urgent now than ever for CHOGM to take the lead and establish a timeline for ensuring that its members have ratified all core ILO conventions by 2010.
The citizens of Commonwealth countries deserve nothing less than freedom from slavery and child labour and freedom of association, as a minimum.â€
He also noted that without these basic rights, the shackles of poverty will keep millions of Commonwealth citizens without a hope to a decent education, job or health system.
It is widely believed that the challenges commonwealth countries face, ranging from HIV/AIDS to corruption and conflict must be met by a determination on behalf of these governments to act.
If only the Uganda government could properly address the plight of the former Uganda Railways Corporation (URC)!
Julius N. Uma
Kampala