Analysis on Effectiveness of Trade Unions in Protection of Workers' Rights in Uganda. A Case Study of Kampala, Uganda.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ..................................................................................................................................... i

APPROVAL ........................................................................................................................................... ii

DEDICATION .................................... : .................................................................................................. iii

ACKNOWLEGEMENT ......................................................................................................................... iv

LIST OF ACRONYMS ........................................................................................................................... v

LIST OF STATUTES ............................................................................................................................ vi

LIST OF AUTHORITIES (CASE LAWS) .......................................................................................... :. vii

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

CHAPTER ONE ..................................................................................................................................... 1

GENERAL INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 1

1.0 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Background ofthc study .................................................................................................................... 1

1.2 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................................................... 4

1.3 Objectives of the Study ...................................................................................................................... 5

1.3.1 General Objective ........................................................................................................................... 5

1.3.2 Specific Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 5

1.4 Research Questions ........................................................................................................................... 6

1.5 Significance of the Study ................................................................................................................... 6

1.6 Methodology ..................................................................................................................................... 6

1. 7 Literature Review .............................................................................................................................. 7

CHAPTER TWO .................................................................................................................................. 13

2.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 13

2.1 Legal Framework for the Protection of Workers' Rights .................................................................. 13

2.1.1 International Legal Framework .................................................................................................... ,. 13

viii

2.1.2 Regional ....................................................................................................................................... 15

2.1.3 National ........................................................................................................................................ 15

2.2. Institutional Framework ................................................................................................................. , 19

2.2.1 The Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development/Labour Office ....................................... 20

2.2.2 The Industrial Court. ..................................................................................................................... 20

2.2.3 The Trade Union Associations ...................................................................................................... 21

CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................................................... 23

EFFECTIVENESS OF TRADE UNIONS IN PROTECTION OF WORKERS' RIGHTS IN UGANDA . ............................................................................................................................................................. 23

3.0 DEFINITIONS ................................................................................................................................ 23

3.1 A perspective on the enjoyment of the rights of workers in Uganda .................................................. 23

3.1.1 The Right to Form a Trade Union .................................................................................................. 25

3.1.2 The Right to Join a Trade Union ................................................................................................... 28

3.1.3. Right to Recognition and Collective Bargaining ........................................................................... 29

3.1.4. The Right to Withdraw Labour .................................................................................................... 31

3.2 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................... 32

CHAPTER FOUR ............................... : ................................................................................................. 34

CHALLENGES FACED BY TRADE UNIONS AND OTHER CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS IN ADVOCATING FOR WORKERS RIGHTS IN UGANDA ................................................................... 34

4.1 Labour Officers ............................................................................................................................... 34

4.2 Labour Unions ................................................................................................................................. 35

4.3 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................... 36

CHAPTER FIVE ................................................................................................................................... 37

RESEARCH FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................... 37

5.1 Research Finding ............................................................................................................................. 37

5.2 Conclusion .................................... : ................................................ 1 ................................................ 37

ix

5.3 Recommendations ........................................................................................................................... 38

5.3.1 Government. ................................................................................................................................. 38

5.3.2 Employees .................................. '· ................................................................................................ 39

5.3. 3 Employers ................................................................................................................................... 40

5.3.4 Trade Unions ................................................................................................................................ 40

5.3.5 Workers' Representatives in Parliament ........................................................................................ 41

5.3.6 To the Directorate of Labour: ....................................................................................................... , 44

5.3.7 To the National Social Security Fund Board: ................................................................................. 44

5.3.8 To Civil Society and Unions: ........................................................................................................ 44

REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................................... 46

ABSTRACT

 Uganda is a signatory to several international instruments enshrining labour rights and has incorporated these rights into domestic law by way of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995, primarily in article 40 which protects a wide range of economic rights. Until recently, however, the legislation implementing these constitutionally protected rights was badly in need of reform. It was not until 2006, afier several aborted attempts at legal reform, that four crucial pieces of labour legislation were enacted. These were: the Employment Act, the Labour Unions Act, the Labour Disputes Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act. I While Uganda's labour laws combined with the Constitution now provide strong legal protection for labour rights, FHRI research indicates that in practice employees largely do not see the benefits of this new and improved legislation.

This report presents the .findings .fi-om a six-month research project carried out by the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative on labour rights in Uganda. Specificallv, the study examined the current level of enjoyment of the right: to work; to join and form a trade union; to minimum standards of employment; to a safe and healthy ·working environment; and to protection upon leaving employment including social securitv and pension rights. Our report also looks at the current state of child labour in Uganda and goes on to provide a critical analysis of the current obstacles to the success/it! implementation of labour rights in Uganda.