The Ministry of Gender Labor and Social Development (MoGLSD) has tasked parents and the public to prioritize and observe the children’s rights, emphasizing the role of education as a supportive gear towards development.
The remarks were made during a five-day training and orientation of the recently inaugurated Labour Advisory Board Members at Hotel La Vena Katale Segguku in Wakiso district, a project funded by a Belgian development agency ‘Enabel’.
According to the Assistant Commissioner MoGLSD on Labour and Industrial relations, Onzoma Apollo, the ministry has stationed a labor officer at every district and Municipality across the country to handle labor related cases.
“We are also going to be doing regular inspections around all work places to see if there are challenges that workers face. As we wait for some reviews to be undertaken by the board, there are a lot of work, labour and trade unions that have come up with clear frameworks under our supervision that have really empowered the workforce sector in the country” Onzoma stated.
The advisory board will be mandated to effectively embark on fair labour practices, advising the Minister for Gender , and promoting a harmonious work environment among others.
However, the Labour Advisory Board Chairperson, Nicholas John Okwir says a 13-member board will aim at settling and solving increased labour disputes, and participate in dialogues with labour unions to improve the labour workforce in the country.
Okwir highlighted that the board will review policies, laws that are existing in relation to labor rights to enhance the capacity and effectiveness of the Labour Advisory Board in fulfilling its statutory mandates under the Employment Act 2006.
Decent work, and social protection expert, Enabel in Uganda, Erbil Pamuk Berivan said accordingly, several laws, policies, and regulations await the feedback of the members of the Labour Advisory Board to be finalized.
The training will enable them to acquire the knowledge and skills to easily review and advise on the pending tasks.
“This will build capacities amongst Members of the Labour Advisory Board on the implication of International Labour Standards on national labour legislation related to decent work and social protection,” Berivan added.
The Labor Advisory Board which was approved by the Cabinet and inaugurated on March, 22, 2024 is mandated over see regulations on employment matters, regulate employment agencies and bureaus, monitor the environment in and around workplaces, mediate disputes between Federations of Employers and Federations of Labour Unions among others
