Parish development model to support government recovery post Covid-19 - Minister Betty Amongi

While addressing journalists at the Media center on the commemoration of the 2022 International Labour Day on Friday, the Minister of Gender Labour and Social development Amongi Betty Ongom said the Parish Development Model was introduced by government to increase access to productive employment and respond to the challenges faced by youth and women especially those living in rural areas.

‘ The  Parish development model amongst other government programs is expected to increase production as the country recovers from the Covid19 pandemic’  Minister Amongi said.

According to the Minister, studies indicated that Covid-19 id19 pandemic increased youth unemployment with about 1 in every 4 youths between 18-30 years losing their jobs due to the pandemic.

“There was also a 35% reduction in sales per worker, a reduction of 59.9% productivity of informal firms and also more than half of the firms in Agriculture and Service sectors adjusted their salaries downwards” she added.

In the preliminary findings from the study commissioned by government to understand the impacts of the covid19 pandemic on Labour, employment and productivity, they revealed that nearly 57% of the firms employing over 2 million workers decreased employment to cope with supply chain disruptions and sales contraction and only 5% registered an increase in employment which sunk millions of people into un employment due to temporally or permanent lay-offs.

Uganda will join workers around the world to commemorate the International Labour Day on May 1st and the theme of this year’s observance will be “Mitigating the impact of covid19; Enhancing Productive Employment for improved livelihoods through Parish Development Model”.

Due to the containment measures imposed to control and prevent covid19, this year’s celebrations will be held at Kololo ceremonial grounds and they will be presided over by the president HE. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni also broadcasted live on all major televisions by 8am.

Amongi also paid tribute to the brave frontline workers that included health professionals, emergency responders, market vendors, factory operatives, cleaners and refuse collectors for their selfless dedication to the protection and well-being of others during the two years of the corona virus pandemic.

In addition to the PDM the government has been proactive in developing interventions that protect and promote workers which include the economic stimulus package, amendment of the NSSF act, securing jobs abroad, skills development in the world of work and also providing climate smart integrated organic system skilling.

The Minister also called upon employers to ensure that workers rights such as payment of wages on time, maternity leave, sick pay, provision of protective equipments, wholesome drinking water, workers compensation, insurance covers, sanitary facilities among others are protected and promoted in their establishments or else they have strengthened their industrial court to listen to workers complaints and disputes.

Youths have also been called upon to embrace the PDM because this will create productive jobs at the household level, create consumption and demand and also improving incomes hence enabling in the achievement of Uganda’s vision of transforming from a peasant to a modern, industrial and prosperous society by 2040.

“There was also a 35% reduction in sales per worker, a reduction of 59.9% productivity of informal firms and also more than half of the firms in Agriculture and Service sectors adjusted their salaries downwards” she added.

In the preliminary findings from the study commissioned by government to understand the impacts of the covid19 pandemic on Labour, employment and productivity, they revealed that nearly 57% of the firms employing over 2 million workers decreased employment to cope with supply chain disruptions and sales contraction and only 5% registered an increase in employment which sunk millions of people into un employment due to temporally or permanent lay-offs.

In addition to the PDM the government has been proactive in developing interventions that protect and promote workers which include the economic stimulus package, amendment of the NSSF act, securing jobs abroad, skills development in the world of work and also providing climate smart integrated organic system skilling.

The Minister also called upon employers to ensure that workers rights such as payment of wages on time, maternity leave, sick pay, provision of protective equipments, wholesome drinking water, workers compensation, insurance covers, sanitary facilities among others are protected and promoted in their establishments or else they have strengthened their industrial court to listen to workers complaints and disputes.

Youths have also been called upon to embrace the PDM because this will create productive jobs at the household level, create consumption and demand and also improving incomes hence enabling in the achievement of Uganda’s vision of transforming from a peasant to a modern, industrial and prosperous society by 2040.