Ministry embarks on projects to curb youth unemployment

May 03, 2014

As Uganda joins the rest of the world to commemorate Labour Day. New Vision’s Billy Rwothungeyo talks to Mary Karooro Okurut, the Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development on some of the issues affecting the Ugandan worker

As Uganda joins the rest of the world to commemorate Labour Day. New Vision’s Billy Rwothungeyo talks to Mary Karooro Okurut, the Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development on some of the issues affecting the Ugandan worker 

Question: What is the national theme of this year’s celebrations and why was it chosen?

Answer: This year’s theme is “Working with the Youth: Addressing employment challenge”. The theme is based on the understanding that employment creation remains a central theme in Uganda’s development strategies as laid down in the National Vision 2040 and the National Development Plan (NDP) 2010-2015; of which the dream is: a transformed Ugandan Society from a Peasant to a Modern and Prosperous Country within 30 years”. There are several barriers to youth employment to wit: a mismatch between available skills and those skills required by the labour market; right attitude, commitment and zeal to go through the tough cycle of establishing successful enterprises; low levels of formal skills and the high involvement in the informal sector activities.

What has NRM achieved for the Ugandan worker?

The NR M created the conducive environment for all Ugandans which we are enjoying today. Uganda has much more wealth than it had before. Uganda’s total labour force has continued to grow from 7.6 million in 1992 to 9.6 million in 1999/2000, 9.8 million in 2002/02, 10.5 million in 2005/06 as well as 13.4 million in 2009/10 to currently, 14 million, according to the Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS), 2012/2013: 16). This reflects an annual growth rate of 3.5%, between 1992-20013. Among these, 77.4% are males and 85.4% are females (UNHS), 2012/2013. This labour force is a result of hard work in areas of education and other sectors of the economy. The opening up of the economy to foreign investments coupled with strong macro economic policies have made Uganda an investment destination in East Africa. This has created more jobs while widening our tax base. With oil and gas now coming on board, the workers of this country will surely feel the economic livelihood impact.

What is your assessment of the Ugandan worker?

The Ugandan worker should be the one focusing on innovation, competitiveness and productivity. This is what every employer requires. This way, we will create wealth for our country which is already gifted by nature. Ugandans should undertake innovative approaches in the culture and creative industry which has far-reaching effects in providing new avenues of employment for the youth. The economy should now focus on Green jobs for more employment opportunities.

Many workers in Uganda grapple with the issues of low salaries. How does the government intend to address this issue?

This challenge is worldwide and global. Low wages and decent employment are being addressed by the NR M Government through programmes like Youth Livelihood and student loans. Government is focusing on key productive sectors that spur the economy. These include industry and construction, manufacturing, agriculture, energy, gas and oil.

Of recent, many public servants, especially teachers, have been missing out on receiving their salaries. How does the Government intend to come up with a lasting solution to this problem?

The NRM Government made commitments to increase the teacher’s salary by 20%. This was accomplished through constructive engagements. Delay in salaries is only logistical largely due to technology challenges from the responsible ministries. This problem has since been rectified. Secondly the Government is implementing salary governance reforms geared at wiping out some unwanted clogs from the system. Teachers should help us to navigate and deal with this challenge.

Many workers in Uganda, especially those that work in physical labour intensive sectors like construction, work without workman insurance. When accidents happen, the victims and their families have nothing to fall back to. What is the Government’s position on this?

There is the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupation Safety and Health Act in place to address such accidents or hazards at workplace. All employers must also comply with the Employment Act and Labour laws and regulations there under. There is a medical arbitration board which determines cases where the employee, employer or insurance company have differed or contested. The public should utilise the labour office too for all cases of injury at workplace.

What are the most partinent issues that every worker in Uganda should know?

The labour office is a quasi judicial office. Ugandans should utilise the services of labour offices to get guidance on labour laws but also access justice. Under section 10,11 and 12 of the Employment Act, labour officers can enforce labour laws through arbitration, conciliation, prosecution or closure of a workplace. People who have been unfairly terminated, laid off or treated at work or harassed, including sexual harassment should come and report to the labour office. On a broader perspective, my ministry is broader perspective, my ministry is undertaking the following; promoting youth entrepreneurship and rethinking education; strengthening labour administration through digitalised Smart Labour as well as strengthening the role of occupational safety and health in oil and gas sector. The ministry is also undertaking entrepreneurial development, focusing on: integration of entrepreneurial skills into youth development activities; facilitation of access to credit for the youth; creation of young entrepreneurs to serve as role models; and provision of needed tax incentives for young entrepreneurs; advancing ICT infrastructure for young people to be employed without leaving their home countries – outsourcing.

What is your message to every Ugandan worker?

The challenge for all stakeholders therefore, is to generate sufficient opportunities for all young people to obtain decent and productive work that makes use of their talents, experience and aspirations. Working with youth will increase the chances of tailored programme designs and employment prospects for social integration. Employment creation and a productive labour force is core to the transformation of Uganda from a peasant to a modern, prosperous and skilled working middle class.

Vision 2040: What is there for the worker 26 years to come?

By Gilbert Kidimu

Unless you are self-employed or are an employer; today is a wonderful day because it is a public holiday. Extra special because it is the day labourers relax at home to celebrate a day that directly recognises them. Nevertheless as we celebrate International Labour Day, the minimum wage is yet to be reviewed. Sh6,000 as per the statutory instrument is the official minimum wage for Uganda, hence any salary above sh6,000 is lawful.

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Women in men’s shoes 

By Agnes Kyotalengeririe

The Ugandan female labour force has grown, especially in corporate organisations and the private sector such as banks, according to Prof. Kyomuhendo Bantebya of the women and gender department, Makerere University. Women who work in maledominated fields face certain challenges, which affect their performance, retention and career success. The challenges, Bantebya says, depend on the position the women hold. Bantebya says, women in senior or administrative positions try to assert their power and position to perform and deliver. For women in junior positions, she says men tend to assume that they should serve them.

Bantebya cautions that at whatever level women are, they should be aware of the gender expectations of an organisation. “Some women take on the mothering role. One has got to be aware of their responsibilities,” Bantebya says, adding taking on the mothering role erodes women of their powers and responsibilities. David Ogaram, a former commissioner for labour employment and industrial relations, urges the movement to bring equality between men and women to continue. Two women who have ventured into maledominated fields, in an interview, share the challenges they face and how they cope. Immaculate Apolot , Female pilot , General aviation The 39-year-old is the second female Ugandan pilot, but the first female pilot in general aviation.

Apolot joined the East African Civil Aviation Academy in Soroti in 1995 for a course in aircraft flying. In 1999, she graduated as a professional pilot. Even after graduating as a professional pilot, Apolot explains that she could not be immediately recruited. “People would assume I could not handle the task because I was a woman,” she says. Although Apolot sat interviews and passed them with flying colours, she was always forced to prove herself. She explains that whenever she appeared before an interview panel, the first question that was asked was: What if you got pregnant? “I could not conceive or else it would affect my work. I had to postpone my plan of bearing children,” Apolot says. She says, the airline industry in Uganda does not have provisions for female pilots. Even the pilot’s calendar does not cater for things like maternity leave.

Eventually, Apolot got a breakthrough when she met Captain Elly Aluvale, a Kenyan pilot, the director and owner of United Airlines. Aluvale picked interest in employing Apolot as a female pilot. Apolot’s first assignment was to fly the late Maj. Gen. James Kazini to the Democratic Republic of Congo around the time his brother’s jet crushed in the Rwenzori Mountains. Apolot flew a five-seater chartered plane, marking the beginning of her flying experience. Apolot has since worked with several organisations, including United Airlines, Eagle Air, FEEDER Airlines in Juba and Uganda Air Cargo. However, she has had her share of challenges during the 14 years she has worked as a pilot. Apolot recalls an incident when she was flying passengers to Adjumani.

Being fresh from school, one passenger stubbornly refused to be flown by a young girl. Apolot has also never had an opportunity to be promoted. Her dream is to fly one of the biggest aircaft in the world. Naume Awe ro, bodaboda cyclist A resident of Mulimwe zone in Bukoto, Kampala, the 26-year-old rides a motorcycle, commonly known as bodaboda, for a living on Kiira Road, Kampala. She is a mother of two; a 13-year-old and a seven-year-old. Awero ventured into the bodaboda riding business in January last year while she was working as a security guard at International Health Science University in Namuwongo, a Kampala suburb.

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Skills development: The youth learn carpentry at a vocational school in Luweero

Awero says she needed to supplement her salary to cater for her children and two other dependents. With encouragement from her male friends, who were bodaboda cyclists at Kamwokya City Council flats, Awero secured a loan of sh2.8m from Cairo International Bank and another loan of sh3m from the university. She used sh3.1m to buy the motorcycle and sh500,000 to pay for the stage where she would operate.

Awero used the remaining money to pay school fees for her children for a full year. Awero would ride her motorcycle during day and report for duty at the university in the evening up to 9:00pm. In March 2014, she decided to concentrate on the motorcycle business. She begins work at 8:00am and ends at 6:30pm. Being a female bodaboda cyclist, Awero says some men want to take advantage of her. “Some hold me tightly while I am giving them a ride.

Others leave me with extra money to entice me. When they ask for my telephone number, I tell them that I do not have a telephone,” she says. Some stubborn male passengers do not want to pay, they think they can take advantage of Awero because she is a woman. Although the male passengers are more accepting of her services, Awero says, women are sceptical about a woman giving them a ride.

On a good day, Awero makes between sh30,000 and sh50,000. In one-year-and-five months, Awero has acquired two more motorcycles, which she hires out to male bodaboda cyclists. They pay her weekly. The money helps her repay her loans. Awero plans to buy a taxi once she has made enough savings. She advises fellow women not to despise jobs, but to work hard and earn a living.

Is Labour Day worth celebrating?

 Kezekia Damba, a councillor

The day is worth celebrating. However, the Government should plan for the youth, who do not have jobs.

Edward Kabunga, a retired public servant

Labour Day is a working day and workers should even work harder. If we celebrate it and do not work, the day will not be worth it. I will be working since I do not earn from having a holiday.

Godfrey Lwanga a resident of Kayunga

With the rampant unemployment, I find nothing worth celebrating about this day. I do not care about it. The only thing I care about is my family and garden.

Sylvia Babirye, a lecturer

It is a day for rest, but I have a lot of work that has to be done daily. I will not be among those celebrating it. Immaculate

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