New Bill Boasts Workers’ Immunity In Contractual Companies

By Our Reporter
Workers MP Sam Lyomoki has described the recent passage of the National Local Content Bill by parliament as a major milestone in protection of workers’ rights.
He says during determination of this bill, workers MPs succeeded to include the provisions on Decent work labour standards in relation to Uganda labourforce  including labour union rights.
Lyomoki explains that the import of this is that all companies contracted by government or benefiting from any loan or public money, must  henceforth from now observe decent work and labour standards including recognition of labour unions.”This is going to resolve the challenge of blatant violation of rights of workers. Labour unions are alerted to take advantage of this new milestone provision” he said.During the debate on this bill, the workers’ MPs managed to insert clause 26(3)(h) which reads thus: “Implement work force development strategies and descent work labour Standards in relation to Ugandan citizens including training plans, labour union rights and projections to address any skill gaps that may have been identified in relation to the local labour force”The passing of this bill comes at a time when many companies mainly foreign companies which get government contracts are accused of employing foreign workers in form of experts and sideline Ugandans who may want to also benefit from such contracts by providing labour.Others that choose to employ local labour go an extent of violating workers rights by not paying their wages, over working them in addition to denying them their right to belong to labour unions. The bill according to Kumi district woman MP Monica Amoding will go a long way in addressing such concerns and also commended Workers’ MPs for what she called championing the cause for workers rights.