Analysis of the Effectiveness of the Legal Framework On the Protection and Enforcement of Work Rights in Uganda.

ABSTRACT The main objective of this study was to provide an analysis of the effectiveness of the legal framework on the protection and enforcement of work rights in Uganda. The study found out that numerous labour laws were enacted by parliament in the year 2006 to act as guidelines to both the employers and the employees in the pr?tection and observance of employees' rights in Uganda. These laws included the Employment Act of 2006, the labour Unions Act of 2006, the occupational health and safety Act of 2006 and the Labour Disputes (Arbitration and Settlement) Act 2006 which established the industrial court that is vital in adjudicating disputes among people with employement contracts. The Researcher employed a doctrinal methodology of research to find out that workers' rights are protected through various laws in Uganda and that these laws are a reflection of the international laws on labour rights, the research foundout that Uganda has ratified conventions and treaties protecting labour rights internationally as discussed in chapter two of this paper. Despite the legal protection of the rights, enforcement of the workers' rights is still a problem to Ugandans. The findings show that employee's rights are violated mostly by their employers and this has been attributed to ignorance of their rights as workers and the overwhelming • unemployment in the country where workers condone ill treatment by their employers for fear to lose their jobs and go unemployed. This paper analyzed the conditions of work among employees in their work places and came up with recommendations that if adopted would improve on enforcement and protection of employees' rights in Uganda.

Table of Contents

D ECLARA TI ON ............................................................................................................................. i

APPROVAL ................................................................................................................................... i i

DEDI CA TI 0 N ............................................................................................................................... iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................................. iv

LIST 0 F STATUTES ...................................................................................................................... v

LIST 0 F ACRONYMS ................................................................................................................. vi

ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................. xi

CHAPTER ONE .............................................................................................................................. I

0. I In trod ucti on ................................................................................................................................ I

I . I Background to the study ............................................................................................................ 4

1.2 Statement of the problem ........................................................................................................... 6

1.3 .I General objective .................................................................................................................... 7

1.3.2 The Specific Objectives of the study are: ............................................................................... 7

1.4 Research questions ..................................................................................................................... 7

I .5 Hypothesis ................................................................................................................................. 7

1.6 Scope of the study ...................................................................................................................... 8

1.6.1 Time scope .............................................................................................................................. 8

1.6.2 Geographical scope ................................................................................................................. 8

I . 7 Significance of the study ........................................................................................................... 8

1.8 Methodology .............................................................................................................................. 8

I . 9. Limitations ................................................................................................................................ 9

1.10 Literature review ...................................................................................................................... 9

I .12 Chapter synopsis .................................................................................................................... 16

CHAPTER TWO ........................................................................................................................... 18

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LEGAL AND INSTITIONAL FRAMEWORK OF LABOUR LAW IN UGANDA .................. I 8

2.0 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. I 8

2. I International Legal Framework ............................................................................................... 18

2.1.1 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) ................................................................ l8

2.1.2 The Convention Concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to

Organise ......................................................................................................................................... l8

2.1.3 International Covenant in Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), 1966 ............. 19

2.2 Regional ................................................................................................................................... 20

2.2.1 African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (African Charter) ..................................... 20

2.3 National Legislations ............................................................................................................... 20

2.3.1 Constitution ofthe Republic of Uganda, 1995 ..................................................................... 20

2.3.2 Employment Act 2006 .......................................................................................................... 21

2.3.3 Labour Union Act 2006 ........................................................................................................ 22

2.3.4 Workers Compensation Act Cap 225 ................................................................................... 22

2.3 .. 5 Occupational Safety and Health Act. 2006 ........................................................................... 22

2.3.6 Labour Disputes (Arbitration and Settlement) Act 2006 ...................................................... 23

The minimum wage Bill 2015 ....................................................................................................... 24

2.4 Institutional Framework put in place to protect workers rights ............................................... 25

2.4.1 Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development/Labour Office ................................... 26

2.4.2 Industrial Court ..................................................................................................................... 26

2.4.3 Trade Union Associations ..................................................................................................... 27

2.5 Chapter conclusion .................................................................................................................. 28

CHAPTER THREE ....................................................................................................................... 29

EFFICACY OF LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS USED IN THE

ENFORCEMENT OF WORKERS. RIG I-ITS .............................................................................. 29

3.0 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 29

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3.1 Mandate of labour lnstitutions ................................................................................................. 29

3.1.1 Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development/Labour Office ................................... 29

3.1.2 Industrial Court ..................................................................................................................... 30

3.1.3 Trade Union Associations ..................................................................................................... 30

3.2 State of workers in Uganda ..................................................................................................... .31

3.2.1 Unfair Dismissal from Work ................................................................................................ 31

3.2.1 Workers hours ....................................................................................................................... 31

3.2.2 Discrimination at Work ....................................................................................................... .32

3.2.3 Lack of Health and Medical Care ........................................................................................ .33

3.2.4 Compensation for injury ....................................................................................................... 33

3.2.5 Child labour , ......................................................................................................................... 34

3.2.6 Sexual Harassment... ............................................................................................................. 35

3.2.7 Annual leave and holidays ................................................................................................... .35

3 .2.8 Freedom of association ........................................................................................................ .36

3.2.9 Protection from forced labour ............................................................................................... 37

3.3 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 37

CHAPTER FOUR ......................................................................................................................... 38

CHALLENGES FACING THE ENFORCEMENT OF WORKERS RIGHTS IN UGANDA .... 38

4.0 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 38

4.1 Structure and Funding of the MGLSD .................................................................................... 38

4.2 Decentralization of Labour Officers ........................................................................................ 39

4.3 Insufficient Sensitization ........................................................................................................ .41

4.4 Casualization of Labour .......................................................................................................... .42

4.5 Rights of a casual labourer ..................................................................................................... .42

4.6 Informal Sector ....................................................................................................................... .45

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4.7 Worker's MPs .................................................................................................................. >. ••••• .46

4.8 The Industrial Court.. .............................................................................................................. .47

4.9 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 48

CHAPTER FIVE ........................................................................................................................... 49

REFORMS AND RECOMMENDATION ................................................................................... .49

5.0 lntroduction .............................................................................................................................. 49

5.1 Government ............................................................................................................................ .49

5.2 Employees ................................................................................................................................ 50

5.3 Employers ................................................................................................................................ 50

5.4Trade Unions ............................................................................................................................ 51

5.5 Workers' Representatives in Parliament ................................................................................. 51

5.6 REFORMS ............................................................................................................................... 52

5.7 Conclusion ...................................................................... , ........................................................ 53

I .8 General Conclusion ................................................................. , ............................................... 53

REFERENCES ........................................................... , .................................................................. 54

Online sources ............................................................................................................................... 53