Ministry of Gender pledges to expand industrial Court

Minister for Gender, labour and social development, Betty Amongi says accessibility to industrial court for workers with grievances at their workplaces is still a big challenge in regards to protecting the rights of the workers.

The Minister notes that the industrial court where these workers would go and file their cases is only in Kampala and wonders what happens to those workers who strike in other districts.

Amongi who was speaking at the opening of the Second Annual National Labour Convention held in Kampala under the theme "Improving access to justice, equity and the future of work", has observed the urgent need to expand industrial court to other parts of the country especially where the cases have accumulated.

‘’As we go through discussions during this convention, we should remain focused on the Government of Uganda's Agenda for securing the future of Ugandans through job creation and inclusive development. It is a known fact that disputes and other challenges in employment relations like inadequate social protection, injuries and accidents, unfair dismissal, unpaid wages and unsafe working conditions do not only violate workers' rights but also harm productivity and overall economic performance of the economy. This is because workers and employers make a big contribution to economic growth’’ minister said.

‘’As the Ministry responsible for Labour and Employment matters in the Country we have noted the issues related to the capacity of the institutions delivering labour justice in this country. I want to inform you that the Ministry plans to strengthen the capacity of, not only the Labour Offices but also, the Industrial Court to enable speedy conclusion of the employment relations dispute and reduction of the case backlog. We have an interface with H.E. the President next week at the national event for the commemoration of the International Labour Day in Fort Portal City to continue with the discussions on this matter with all of you’’. Amongi added.

‘’The Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development (MGLSD) explains that workers’ rights must be respected regardless of their social status’’. Said Aggrey David Kibenge, the Permanent Secretary in the Gender Ministry.

He noted that employers must ensure that their employees have good working conditions and they are paid as agreed.

He added that the government is undertaking several measures to ensure workers’ rights and conditions are put in place and respected by the law.

Kibenge however advised workers to always report to authorities in case their rights are abused to access justice.

At the same meeting workers' representative MP Arinaitwe Rwakajara raised the concern about the existence of a few labour officers which makes it difficult to monitor the working conditions of workers in the country, adding that it is high time that the government to consider increasing the numbers of labour officers

On his part, Usher Wilson Owere, an advocate for the rights of workers called on the government to undertake several measures to improve the working conditions of domestic workers in the diaspora.

The convention is among pre-activities ahead of the International Labour Day commemoration and the national event will take place in Fort Port City.