By Jimmy Odoki Acellam
May 1st, is the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker and International Labour Day too. It focuses on celebrating the contribution of workers towards the development and betterment of their countries. The theme for the celebration this year was: “Social Justice and Decent Work for All.” In Uganda, the national celebration took place in Fort Portal City under the theme: “Improving Access to Labour Justice: A Prerequisite for Increased Productivity.” Decency in work means good working conditions for workers; safety, freedom and respect for rights at the workplace. Labour Justice is meant to ensure that workers or employees are not exploited by their employers.
One of the best ways to minimize exploitation is having a minimum wage; which is the lowest remuneration that employers can legally pay their employees.
In 2019, President Yoweri Museveni declined to assent to the Minimum Wage Bill, 2015 passed by the 10th Parliament. The Bill sought to set up a minimum wage determination mechanism across different sectors of the economy. The Minimum Wages Advisory Board had earlier in 2017 recommended that the lowest pay for any worker in Uganda be 130,000 shillings per month.
President Museveni disagreed with putting a cap on wages arguing that it would keep investors away from the country. Journalist, Simon Kaheru who works with Coca-Cola Beverages Africa agrees with this argument adding that Uganda’s economy is very informal. However, people should be paid worth the value of work done. There is now a renewed drive by some members of Parliament to have the Minimum Wage Bill tabled again to ameliorate the exploitation of workers.
According to the Parliamentary Forum on Labour, Decent Employment and Productivity, the exploitation of workers is worse in the private sector. “They employ Ugandans at the rate they want simply because people lack jobs and are desperate for any kind of work. Promoting exploitative investors must stop.” Rukiga County Member of Parliament, Hon. Roland Ndyomugyenyi Bish who chairs the Forum says some laws need to be amended so that workers are protected. “Many countries have enacted the law regarding minimum wage. Why can’t we also have it?” he queries. He says without a law on minimum wage, workers in Uganda will continue to be exploited. In addition, countries like Uganda, which has been a member of the International Labour Organization (ILO) since 1963 are encouraged to have a minimum wage according to the ILO National Programme Officer in Uganda, Jackie Banya.
While the 130,000 shillings recommended as minimum wage in 2017 is a good suggestion, it should be adjusted and inflation accounted for periodically. In advanced countries, the minimum wage is determined and paid for work done on an hourly basis. The money most workers in Uganda are paid is not enough to take care of their welfare. Also according to ratings by the International Labour Organization, Uganda spends only 0.7% of its GDP on social protection, leaving most of its citizens vulnerable. The country should embrace policies and programs geared towards poverty alleviation, reducing social exclusion and vulnerability.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Service, Catherine Bitarakwate says the minimum wage is what workers desire and it is a work in progress. Although workers in Uganda are better off being paid a living wage instead. A living wage is what one full-time worker must earn on an hourly basis to help cover the cost of their family’s minimum basic needs where they live while still being self-sufficient.
