Labour Day Supplement 2015
May 02, 2015
This year’s national theme for International Labour Day seeks to signifi cantly improve the specific social-economic development indicators which are patent to transformation.
Government set to improve working conditions, wages
By Agnes Kyotalengerire
This year’s national theme for International Labour Day seeks to signifi cantly improve the specifi c social-economic development indicators which are patent to transformation. The state minister for Labour, Kamanda Bataringaya, says the Government is set to provide productive work opportunities and good wages for workers as the economy improves.
The national theme is: ‘Accelerating social economic transformation through promotion of decent work agenda, social justice and equity.
The minister says in addition, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development will provide security of tenure in work places, promote safety and healthy issues at the workplace and expand social protection coverage for workers and their families.
The ministry will also strengthen social dialogue between employers and employees, eliminate all forms of child labour and combat traffi cking of persons including young children. But while echoing the national theme for Labour Day, Professor Agustus Nuwagaba, the managing consultant REEV Consult International and an expert in economic development in Africa, says it is achievable and what is needed are policies to ensure equal pay in terms of remuneration for equal value
In a bid to improve equity, the Government on Wednesday established a Salaries Commission which will be implemented in the next fi nancial year. Nuwagaba says the Salaries Commission will iron out discrepancies especially for people with experience and qualifi cation.
He advises the Government to look into expanding the tax base to ensure suffi cient revenue for remunerating public servants. However, he cautions public servants to show suffi cient productivity because Uganda seems to be lagging behind in the area of productivity.
A recent World Bank report shows that work done by four Ugandans can be done by one Tanzanian and work done by six Ugandans can be done by one Kenyan. Nuwagaba says there is need to continue looking into issues of occupational health so that workers are protected as they give services to the country.
The Workers’ Member of Parliament, Samuel Lyomoki says achieving social economic transformation, decent work agenda, social justice and equity calls for supporting labour interventions and standards. “Workers should have a say in issues that pertain to their work for example workers’ rights, suffi cient salaries to motivate them and they should be free from forced labour,” says Lyomoki.
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
In the area of youth empowerment, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Pius Bigirimana says the Youth Livelihood Programme has registered a lot of success. “In less than one year, a total of about 49,242 youth have accessed the money to a tune of sh26b and about 3,797 projects have already been set up.” He says they expect to have a total of about 4,000 projects established by the end of June 2015.
Bigirimana says that since the programme works in form of a revolving fund, the fi rst group of youth who got money in the 27 districts have already paid back up to a tune of sh300m. “This is a good sign and we are encouraging many to refund the money so that others can benefit,” he says.
However, Bigirimana says the programme has registered a few challenges. He cited the overwhelming demand from youth who want to access the money. “The money is not enough yet we get many youth who want to access the money. But we keep encouraging them not to wait,” he points out. In addition, the youth are being encouraged to engage in other income generating activities.
He says the green job project has been approved and it aims at encouraging people to acquire apprenticeship skills by using their hands and brain to earn a living. He also says failure to follow guidelines especially for those who approve the money sometimes results into money being given to people who do not qualify. The other challenge is the limited number of financing offi -cers at district level. Bigirimana, however, says this is being overcome by getting manpower from the neighboring districts.
MINIMUM WAGE
Minister Bataringaya says the ministry has registered some achievements. He cites operationalisation of the Industrial Court which is already in place. The Labour Advisory Body to address issues on labour and employment, the Medical Arbitration Board, the Decent Work Country Programme II which was launched in August 2013 are all meant to improve industrial relations and productivity, adherence to labour standards through strengthening of labour. And Bigirimaana says a cabinet memo has already been drafted requesting cabinet to appoint a Minimum Wage Board.
The board will get views from all stakeholders and make recommendations on the minimum wage. “We have got different categories of employees in different geographical locations. This means the board will have to make recommendations on what minimum wage should be given to different employees.
For instance those from hard-to-stay and reach areas will get a different rate. The ministry has established an external unit called the “Recruitment of Ugandan Workers Abroad”. The company’s responsibility is to license and coordinate all private agencies that carry out the recruitment
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