15 August, 2023Boosting collective bargaining, improving working environments, upholding decent work, promoting social dialogue, and promoting trade union rights are some the principles of a social dialogue Memorandum of Understanding between the Federation Uganda Employers (FUE) and four Ugandan IndustriALL affiliates, which was signed on 10 July.
This memorandum will make improvements to workers’ lives, currently there is an industriALL East African Union Building project (IEAUBP)with affiliates in Uganda which focusses on more systematic social dialogue. It improves labour market framework conditions, increases gender equality and equity, and just transition to climate change and environment friendly production.
Before the signing, there were restrictions on trade union rights on freedom of association and collective bargaining, which allowed many employers to not recognize trade unions.
Moving forward the team, who consists of national council members, general secretaries, facilitators and chairpersons will meet in September to develop a road map on how to move forward.
Other clauses in the memorandum include promoting good industrial relations and economic and social justices.
“The MOU is an important breakthrough which we have been waiting for quite some time. If implemented well, it will reduce the restriction of trade union rights in Uganda creating decent work and the promotion of workplace social dialogue,”
says the general secretary of Uganda Printers, Paper,Polyfibre and Allied Workers Union (UPPPAWU).
IndustriALL Sub-Saharan Africa regional secretary Paule Ndessomin says,
“creating social dialogue between employers and unions is fundamental to achieving better conditions for workers. We applaud our affiliates for their continuous fight for workers’ rights.”
The four Ugandan IndustriALL affiliates include Uganda Chemical Petroleum and Allied Workers Union (UCPAWU), Uganda Textile, Garment, Leather and Allied Workers Union (UTGLAWU), Hotels Tourism, Supermarket and allied Workers Union (HTS-U) and Uganda Printers, Paper, Polyfirbre and Allied Workers Union (UPPPAWU)