BY HON. MARGARET RWABUSHAIJA NAMUBIRUWorkers Member of Parliament (2021 – 2026)
Policy and Principles:
The object of the bill is to regulate the human resource management professionals to establish the Human Resource Management Institute. It also provides for the functions of the institute and setting up a Council as the Governing body of the institute.The bill seeks to provide for the powers and functions of the council, provide for the registration of members of the institute and to provide for the disciplinary procedures for the human resources management professionals and for related matters.
Justification for the Bill
Currently, there is no legal framework that regulates the human resource management practice despite the country’s social and economic development being dependent on the quality of human resource it possesses.
The absence of a regulatory body to set and enforce the required professional standards for the effective management of the most critical resource has left many organizations operating under varied standards and to an increase in unprofessional conduct cases by human resource management practitioners.The increased performance management challenges and the poor handling of labour related disputes in most organizations all point to unregulated profession, which leaves court as the only recourse to handle professional misconduct related complaints.Whereas the human resource management practice is at the centre of organizational strategy planning and the realization of organizational strategy, in Uganda, the human resource management function is still placed in the hands of generalists and other unrelated disciplines.
In order to achieve an effective management of the human resources and ultimately the realization of the country’s development and organizational goals, human resource management practitioners require specific expert knowledge, skill and attitude to enable them build sustainable competitive advantage.Globally and regionally, the human resource management function has become dynamic in order to cope with the social, economic, legal, political and technological innovations. For example, the revival off the East African community has created new standards, opportunities and challenges.
The free movement of labour in the East African partner states calls for the building and maintaining of the competences of their human resources in order to cope with the competing demands for expertise and production. The role of human resources resource management practitioners is critical in this effort, hence the need to professionalize the practice.
Remedies proposed by the Bill
The Bill is intended to provide a legal framework to regulate the human resource management practice by establishing a regulatory body responsible for setting the required professional standards and professional code of conduct that will enhance service delivery in both the public service and private organisations.About the AuthorHon.
Margaret Rwabushaija Namubiru is a Member of Parliament representing Workers
