LABOUR MINISTRY ENCOURAGES WORKERS AND EMPLOYEES TO MAKE USE OF DISTRICT LABOUR OFFICES.

STORY BY ABDUL KIMERA.
In their end of first half of financial year performance highlights delivered at the Media Center in Kampala, the Minister for Gender, Labour and Social development Hon. Amongi Betty urged workers and employers to reach out to their district offices to have their employment issues resolved.

The Minister’s call was in relation to the Labour Disputes (Arbitration and Settlement) Amendment that came into force on the 23rd of July 2021 that saw an increase to the number of judges of the Industrial Court from two to five, providing further enforcement of awards by Labour officers and also allowing judges to hear cases independently.

With their longstanding experience in running cash transfer programs, the Ministry was tasked to implement the Relief Cash Transfer for Vulnerable Persons during the peak of covid19 and according to the Minister, the overall UG  shs52,719,505,703 has been utilized and each of the 497,848 beneficiaries employed in the formal sector have ultimately received Shs 102,425 inclusive of bank and withdraw charges.

The Minister also hinted on the news of the NSSF Amendment Bill that was passed and now awaits the presidential assent to be put into effect.

On the issue of Migrant workers, the Minister indicated how the Ministry she heads continues to put into place systems and regulations that guarantee decent, safe  and secure jobs for Ugandans and this is well observed in the Statutory Instrument No.47 of 2021 that came into effect on 13th of August 2021.

Currently, Ugandans have embraced job placements abroad especially in the Middle East and a total of 84,879 persons have been externalized only in this year according to the Ministry.

Hon. Amongi also elaborated on their bilateral meetings with their counterparts in UAE to operationalize the 2019 M.o.U on Labour matters and also the advanced arrangements stages of signing a similar Memorandum with Qatar following the clearance from the Ministry of Justice and that of Finance.

The Ministry has also been concerned by the astronomical increase in cases of Gender Based Violence during the covid19 pandemic, but it thanked the members of the Civil Society, Donor Ministries, Departments and Agencies for their collaboration in finalizing the launch of the Response Plan and Strategy on GBV/ VAC.

In line with the promotion of Swahili as the second official language, the Ministry announced that the department of Family and Culture Affairs developed principles for the council bill which paves way for the establishment of the Uganda Kiswahili Council.

The Minister finally hinted on the last mile strategy for service delivery the “Parish Development Model” and highlighted their plans of activities targeting key stakeholders through the month of January and February to lay grounds of implementation.