Government To Issue Industrial Blueprint
Aug 08, 2003
THE Government’s industrial policy, which will cover the legal framework to regulate and oversee the sector, will be out soon.
By Ricks Kayizzi
THE Government’s industrial policy, which will cover the legal framework to regulate and oversee the sector, will be out soon.
Janet Namuyangu, the state minister in charge of industry and technology, said yesterday, the policy will have laws on counterfeit goods, dumping and duplication of products.
It will also include regulations on workman’s compensation, patent rights and insolvency, among other points.
“We are aware that the whole economy is being driven by the industrial sector, and don’t want to jeopardise it. That’s why we are consulting widely in order to ensure that we do not come up with a bad law,†she said.
She was meeting with board members of the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) led by the chairman, Abid Alam at the UMA secretariat, Lugogo.
Namuyangu said the law was long overdue.
Referring to workman’s compensation, Namuyangu said, “Many people are driven out of employment after being incapacitated at their work places. Many more are being mis-treated by their employees on learning that they have infections such as HIV/AIDS. This is a worry to government.â€
She said the new policy will help safeguard these workers’ rights.
Alam, who is also a director of the Alam Group of Companies, expressed concern about how the Industrial Licensing Board worked.
He said some factory inspectors are biased, and sometimes favour factories that break regulations and frustrate those that are being run in a proper manner.
He said that on the advent of the East African Customs Union, government needed to strengthen the legal regime in order to counter dubious businessmen whose only interest is to make a quick buck.
Ends
THE Government’s industrial policy, which will cover the legal framework to regulate and oversee the sector, will be out soon.
Janet Namuyangu, the state minister in charge of industry and technology, said yesterday, the policy will have laws on counterfeit goods, dumping and duplication of products.
It will also include regulations on workman’s compensation, patent rights and insolvency, among other points.
“We are aware that the whole economy is being driven by the industrial sector, and don’t want to jeopardise it. That’s why we are consulting widely in order to ensure that we do not come up with a bad law,†she said.
She was meeting with board members of the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) led by the chairman, Abid Alam at the UMA secretariat, Lugogo.
Namuyangu said the law was long overdue.
Referring to workman’s compensation, Namuyangu said, “Many people are driven out of employment after being incapacitated at their work places. Many more are being mis-treated by their employees on learning that they have infections such as HIV/AIDS. This is a worry to government.â€
She said the new policy will help safeguard these workers’ rights.
Alam, who is also a director of the Alam Group of Companies, expressed concern about how the Industrial Licensing Board worked.
He said some factory inspectors are biased, and sometimes favour factories that break regulations and frustrate those that are being run in a proper manner.
He said that on the advent of the East African Customs Union, government needed to strengthen the legal regime in order to counter dubious businessmen whose only interest is to make a quick buck.
Ends