Richard Bigirwa, the Secretary General for NOTU, says they are seeking for recentralization of recruitment, transfer and assessment of Labour Officers in local governments, to make them more effective while executing their responsibilities.
The National Union
of Trade Unions (NOTU) is seeking a policy reversal for the recruitment of Labour
Officers in local governments to improve their efficiency in the protection of workers' rights
Richard Bigirwa,
the Secretary General for NOTU, says they are seeking the recentralization of recruitment,
transfer and assessment of Labour Officers in local governments, to make them
more effective while executing their responsibilities.
Speaking at a meeting
of leaders of Trade Unions and local government Workers’ Councillors from the greater Masaka sub-region, Bigirwa noted that many Labour Officers in local governments
are not effectively fulfilling their responsibilities of defending the rights of workers
and arbitrating in grievances of violations by their supervisors at the
districts for fear of administrative retributions.
He proposed that
the Labour Officers in local governments be given exemptions and be recruited
and managed centrally by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development,
saying that this will enable them to perform their responsibilities without fear
and repression.
He indicates that
they have received reports of workers' violations that go unreported and
unresolved in local governments, because the responsible officers fear to dare
their supervisors, hence the failure to enforce the labour laws, which renders
the victims more helpless.
//Cue in; “we are going to continue….
Cue out: …..can work better.”//
Birigwa adds that
they are also mooting for extending elections of Workers Councillors in all
local government councils to ensure that their concerns are presented throughout
all the policy and decision-making levels of government.
The workers, through their different Trade unions, elected representatives in Parliament and district
councils, but Bigirwa says they want the presentation expanded across the
board, including having a presence down to sub-county and Town Council levels, where
some policy discussions are made and decisions taken.
He indicates that they are currently drafting their policy proposals, which they intend to present to
various stakeholders for discussion before they can eventually present them
to Parliament for consideration.
//Cue in: “it is every important….
Cue out: …..at the grassroots.”//
Arinaitwe
Rwakajara, a Member of Parliament representing Workers, says that the policy
proposals are permissible under the law, indicating that he is ready to popularise
them through mobilising the different stakeholders.
He adds that they
also intend to press the government to consider all civil servants for compensation
or insurance cover should they suffer any incidents while executing
their duties.
Deo Mukasa, the Kyotera District Labour
Officer, says that the amendment, if considered, will empower their offices and improve
their significance.
He explains that apparently, many districts are treating Labour
Officers as underdogs, whose activities are often not budgeted for, which
renders them less responsive to workers' concerns.
