By Our Reporter.
Uganda Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (GLSD) have introduced new service fees and also revised existing fees levied on services offered to Labour unions in the country.
According to Statutory Instruments 2020 No.1 section 58 of the Labour Unions Act 2006 and Regulation 24 of the Labour Unions (Registration) regulations 2012, the Minister responsible for Labour is required to determine fees payable to the Registrar.
The new fees under a draft Labour Unions (fees) Regulations 2020 has been developed to provide for implementation of the proposed requirements. They were circulated to Labour unions to discuss and make their proposals,
Proposals are presented under statutory Instruments 2020 No.1under section15 of the Labour Unions Act, 2006 and under Section 5 of the Labour Union (Registration) Regulation 2012.
Gender, Labour and Social Development Labour Officer (Industrial Relations) Ms Hilda Nakagga said the proposed fees are aimed at improving their operations hence effective services delivery.
She said currently there is no substantive regulation to guide fees collection for the matters listed under the schedule which necessitates revision in fees to conform with the current demands.
Ms Nakagga was speaking at a one day training workshop for Labour unions’ General Secretaries September 21, 2021 at Esella Resort Hotel, Najeera.
She said in the exercise of the powers conferred upon the Minister responsible for labour by section 58 of the Labour Unions Act, the regulations were being made on 24th day of August 2020..
The Ministry has proposed that Labour Uniosn seeking registration what be required to pay Ushs 310,000/- , revised upwards from the previous Ushs 50,000/-. A Labour union that wishes to have a new rule or alter an existing rule or rules shall be required to pay Ushs 50,000 for registration.
GLSD Ministry has also proposed that a notice of any change of officers of trustees shall within 14 days after the change be sent to the Registrar of Trade Unions by the General secretary after payment of Ushs 50,000/-.
The name of the registered labour union or organization shall not be altered to unless a notice has been given to the registrar with a fee of Ushs 400,000/-/
Other proposals made include registration fees for labour unions formed by amalgamation of two or more unions who shall be required to pay Ushs 350,000/- as registration fees for certificate.
Inspection of register entries and of documents filed by or with the registrar relating to any one labour union shallbe subject to payment of Ushs 20,000/-.
A union that requests for a copy of any extract from any documents that are in custody of the registrar shall be required to pay Ushs 20,000/- and a union seeking authentication by the Registrar shall pay Ushs 50,000/0/-
The Ministry warns under the proposals that a person who contravenes the proposed regulations as offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding ninety six currency points or to imprisonment for a term no exceeding six months. Each currency point is Ushs 20,000/-.
A cross section of trade unions are opposed to the proposals which they see as aimed at extorting money from workers. A consultative meeting for Labours unions will be convened to discuss the final proposals. ■
