By Our Reporters.
IndustriALL Labour unions on November 24, 2021 organized a one – day conference to commemorate Africa Industrialization Day at Hotel, Africana, Kampala.
The event conducted under the theme “ Trade Union approaches and engagement on African Industrialization and sustainable development, was attended by Labour unions, employers and government officials.
Topics for discussion included the role of trade unions torwards influencing policymaking and monitoring of industrialization plans , understanding Uganda’s industrial policy, promotion of manufacturing , elimination of precarious work and protection of workers, among others..
IndustriALL National Coordinating Council of Uganda (INCC-U), Chairman Haji Twaha Sempebwa said it was great pleasure for Ugandan workers to commemorate Africa Industrialization Day .
He said the forum was timely in sharing experiences and ideas towards Trade union approaches and engagement on African Industrialization, promotion of manufacturing for job creation, decent work, and sustainable development.
Mr Sempebwa said the main objective of IndustriALL is to discuss the roles and engagements of Trade Unions towards influencing policy making, implementation and monitoring of industrialization plans in Uganda.
“Unions discuss strategic positions on industrial policies that promote manufacturing through infrastructure development, skills development, financial policy, regional integration and global value chains,” he said.
Federation of Uganda Employers (FUE) Executive Director Mr Douglas Opio applauded government for creating an enabling environment for building the economy by both local and foreign Investors which has created more jobs.
He said employers attach significant importance on matters pertaining to decent work, safety and welfare of the workers and generally promoting labour rights in the country..
Mr Opio said there is need for Labour unions to organize their members through training and sensitization programs for workers to be compliant with the dynamic trends in technological advancement.
“Labour unions should organize their members through training and sensitization programs for workers to be compliant with the dynamic trends in technological advancement,” he said.
He said:” 27 industrial parks will be created in the country within the next five years. More jobs for both skilled and non skilled workers will be available.”
National Organisation of Trade Unions Vice Chairman General who is also Educational Institutions Union General Secretary Mr Musa Okello said trade unions should start strategizing in preparation for one million jobs to be created by the Chinese in 2030.
“Trade unions should start training and strategizing in preparation for one million jobs to be created by the Chinese in 2030,” he said..
He said preparations should start right from the young children in lower schools and upwards through skilling in conformity with the anticipated employment needs.
Infrastructure Union General Secretary Mr Robert Matukhu Wanzusi said Industrialization should not be for benefitting workers in terms of more money made if it does not respect workers’ rights.
He said industrialization is an impediment to the growth of unionism because it entails application of modern technology to increase efficiency and productivity at the expense of laying off workers hence creating unemployment..
Mr Matukhu castigated government for always being interested in increasing taxes payable by investors than need for protecting workers’ rights.
Uganda Hotels ,Tourism and Supermarkets (UHTS) union acting General Secretary Mr Moses Mauku said the hospitality industry in the country has been hit hardest with at least 400,000 jobs lost as a result of Covid-19 pandemic.
“Our union has lost 29,000 members due to Covid -19 and more deaths are expected to occur,” he said.
Mr Mauku said the coming in of Privatization was the beginning of collapse in active trade unionism and by the time it was realized as inappropriate the transport sector that employed bulk of workers had completely collapsed.
Uganda Public Employees Union (UPEU) Chairperson Ms Agatha Namirembe called on authorities to carry out an environmental assessment on the effects of existing industries.
She said there is need to check on management of waste, pollution or gases emitted to ascertain whether they can be converted into useful sources in daily life.
“We need employment policies that ensures adherence to occupation, health and safety of the workers on the job,” She said.
Workers Member of Parliament Hon. Dr Abdulhu Byakatonda advised labour unions to pull resources together through organized groups like SACCOs which they can use to effect realistic investments, job creations and for sustainability and self reliance.
He said Labour unions in the country have suffered job losses, salary cuts and some employers have had to altogether close shop as a result of Covid-19 pandemic effects.
The legislator said labour unions should take seriously lessons learnt from Covid-19 effects and plan how to create financial systems and structures for future development programs that are compliant with
any unforeseen circumstances.
He said: “No one predicated that Covid-19 pandemic would come and impact on the workers adversely. We must start to plan for disasters and catastrophes in our daily lives.”
Former President Uganda Medical Association (UMA) Dr Ekwaro Obuku said trade unions should give health of their members first priority as this is key to development.
Dr Obuku said a healthy workforce will lead to efficiency at workplaces hence qualitative and productivity in all the sectors where labour is a factor of production.
He said:“ Workers should vaccinate themselves against the deadly covid-19 pandemic now ravaging the country.”
Regional Coordinator IndustriALL East Africa Union Building Program Ms Catherine Aneno said trade unionists should advocate for a sustainable industrial policy that creates a healthy economy, decent and quality employment.
“Trade unions should strive to defend and promote decent and secure work that pays living wages) while minimizing negative environmental impact,” She said.
Ms Aneno condemned employers who are still frustrating trade union activities in the country, adding that there can never be decent work in the country unless stakeholders come together to stop precarious work.
She castigated government policy for not instituting stringent measures on promoting “Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU) which has led to an influx of second hand underwears popularly known as female bikers.
IndustriALL family has been involved in organizing workers in the Industrial sectors to join unions to promote better working condition and decent wages, over 50,000 workers have been organized into unions in the last five years.
They have been engaging with employers in social dialogue meetings and negotiating Collecting Bargaining Agreements that guarantees better working conditions and wages for workers.
IndustriALL has been campaigning to stop precarious work in Uganda since 2015 by creating awareness on how precarious work is affecting the welfare of workers in Uganda.
However, efforts in promoting Industrialization process have been met with key challenges such as; systematic restrictions of trade union rights and the principle of freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining by employers and the Government.
IndustriALL members are Uganda Textiles, Garment, Leather and Allied Workers’ Union (UTGLAWU),
Uganda Hotels, Food, Tourism, Supermarkets and Allied Workers’ Union (HTS-Union),; Uganda Chemical, Petroleum, and Allied Workers’ Union (UCPAWU), National Union of Clerical, Commercial, Professional and Technical Employees (NUCCPTE), Uganda Mines, Metal, Oil, Gas & Allied Workers’ Union (UMMOGAWU), and Uganda Printers, Paper, Polyfibre and Allied Workers’ Union (UPPPAWU)■
