By Hon Charles Bakkabulindi Workers MP.
After signing the 1900 agreement between the Royal Church Missionary Society (RCMS) and the Kabaka of Buganda, there arose a need to build up administrative, security and economic structures, which needed labour, Due to high demand and inadequate supply of labour, the first governor of Uganda Sir Hesketh Bell in conjunction with Buganda Chiefs devised a system of paid compulsory labour (Kasanvu) whereby everyone able male was required to go and work for a calendar month every year. This standing order lasted 14 years from 1909 to 1922.
To alleviate some of the more blatant hardships experienced by labourers as regards payment of wages, the very limited minimum wages ordinance 1934 was enacted to provide the machinery to minimum wages. This gave powers to the governor after being satisfied that wages paid to employees in any particular occupation in any district were unreasonably low hence an order to fix a minimum wage to be paid to such employees (Section 2 of Minimum Wages Ordinance N0.3 of 1934).
Given the innumerable labour problems facing the country, a commission of inquiry was appointed in 1937 by J.R.Elliot to investigate about the conditions affecting unskilled labour and its supply in Uganda. Its report recommended among other things that 30 days ticket system should be replaced by a more adjustable wage payment, it went ahead to conclude that wages for unskilled labour by then was adequate, therefore there was no need for the introduction of the minimum wages ordinance.
However, the colonial office was not satisfied with Elliot’s report and a year later in 1938 the committee of inquiry into the labour situations in Uganda was appointed. The report of the commission recommended among other things that the thirty day ticket system should be replaced by a more adjustable wage and concluded that wages for unskilled labour by then were adequate and there was no need for introduction of Minimum Wages Ordinance.
The committee recommended for the creation of a permanent wage earning class and the establishment of the Economic and Labour Advisory Committee with a small selected membership of officials with a permanent secretary.
In 1942, the colonial government re-established the Labour Department which had been an inspectorate since 1931. Despite the fact that there was need for minimum wage, the colonial government resisted to set it up arguing that any fixing of the minimum wage in town would tend to force the wages up in the rural areas adjacent where a great deal of labour was employed by Africans in the production of economic crops essential to the war effort and thus draw labour from such employment into towns.
In 1944, there was food shortage and a spiraling of food prices, Labourers or workers were unable to buy such necessities of life leading to five serious workers’ strikes all demanding for wage increase and food ration. The resulting national wide riot in 1945 forced government give in and in July 1947 the employment ordinance was amended. Further, the government increased wages by 59 and appointed provisional advisory board under the minimum wages ordinance of 1934 to keep under constant review and conditions of service of African skilled labour and non-established African employees of the government.
The impact of uprising continued working class activity to look into the cost of living of unskilled African Workers. In 1947, the Governor appointed advisory boards on regional basis. In 1949, there was the publication of the first minimum wages order which fixed statutory minimum wage for Kampala and Jinja at 33 shillings per month with effect from 1st January 1950.
In May 1961, the DP government appointed a committee of inquiry which recommended a 60/= per day in the rural areas and 3.40/= in Kampala. Instead the DP government rejected the recommendation and increased to a minimum of 4/= per day for all government and un-established employees. In 1962, the UPC government appointed its minimum wage advisory board chaired by Akena Adoko and again in 1964 another minimum wage advisory board chaired by Shafiq Arain recommended a 75/= per month for rural areas throughout the country and 75 Cents per hour. 5.90 per day or 152.50/= per month in Kampala while in Jinja, Masindi, Soroti, Mbarara 1.45/= per month and in Hoima, Kabale, Kitgum and Mubende 135/= per month.
In 1970, another minimum wages advisory board recommended 185/= per month in places like Kampala, Jinja, Mbale, Masaka and 125 in some specified rural areas or 104 anywhere else.
The minimum wages advisory board 1995
The minimum wages advisory board 1995 was appointed under General Notice N0.176 of 1995, in accordance with the provisions of section 3(1) of the minimum Wages Advisory Boards and Wages Council Act, 1964 (Cap 964).
The membership consisted of two representatives of employers and equal number representing employees, each group having been nominated by the respective national organizations.
Three other members of the board were independent. A Secretary to the Board was also appointed from amongst senior officers of the former Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare. Subsequently, the board sought the services of a senior Economist from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to assist it in assessment of the state of the economy and related matters.
The board was required to investiaget into the wages of unskilled labour throughout Uganda and to submit recommendations having regard to the social and economic conditions of the country.
It was further requested to examine the need for differentials in wage rates as between areas, the need for a special wage rate and other attractive conditions of work for the large agricultural estates as well as separate rates for learners other than apprentices; and finally; the hourly rates for part time workers who are employed for four or less consecutive hours in each day.
The board was inaugurated in December 1995 and commenced work in January 1996. It established a work program and a method of carrying out inquiries. Its programmes were given wide publicity and views, both verbal and written were solicited from all sectors of the society. The Board set 6000/= (now 60/=) per month as the statutory minimum wage.
Current situation
As we talk today, the 6,000/= per month is the statutory official minimum wage. All the years the NRM has been in power, it has been adamant about the minimum wages issue.
Workers’ leaders have tried their best to demand for it but in vain.
What then should be done?
As we wait for the government to institute a minimum wage, Trade Unions should do the following,
– Negotiate on a sector basis to ensure that the workers (their members) get living wage. In fact apart from domestic workers other workers don’t need a minimum wage.
We can take a leaf from our History because right from the colonial days, the minimum wage was not uniform, it differed from area to area and the rural workers had their own.
Through negotiations, workers will be able to get better pay as well as their allowances and the need for a minimum wage will not arise. We therefore as a matter of urgency need to recruit all workers into Labour Unions so that they benefit from their constitutional rights■
