Enabel in Uganda, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, and partners have organised the 2nd National Labour Convention and Expo 2024, in Kampala under the theme: “Improving Access to Justice: Equity and the Future of Work.” The event is part of the Pre-Labour Day activities and provided a platform for stakeholders, including government agencies, employer associations, workers' organisations, and legal experts to collaborate on strategies for enhancing access to justice in the workplace by addressing systemic issues, raising awareness, and strengthening enforcement mechanisms to create a conducive environment for labour rights protection, ultimately contributing to improved productivity and economic growth in Uganda.

The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MoGLSD), Aggrey David Kibenge in his opening remarks said that workplaces with high levels of labour justice have higher productivity as a result of morale, reduced work conflicts, and increased retention of talents at work. “When workers feel valued and protected, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated which positively impacts productivity”, said Aggrey David Kibenge.

Labour justice encompasses a wide range of rights and protection for workers. It involves ensuring fair wages, reasonable working hours, safe working conditions, non-discrimination, and freedom from exploitation. These do not only boost productivity but also uphold human dignity because labour is central to the production and consumption of goods & services. It is key to income distribution and national savings and therefore a critical determinant of economic growth.

The labour department at the MoGLSD is mandated to formulate and implement laws, policies, and programs. It also serves as a policy advisory and coordination arm of government on aspects of labour, industrial relations, and productivity.

The president of Uganda Law Society Mr. Benard Oundo in his remarks during the event said that there is a rapidly evolving social-economic landscape and ensuring access to Justice for all workers is paramount to upholding their rights, promoting fairness in employment practices, and fostering inclusive economic growth. “Together we have the power to shape policies, enact reforms, and build a more just equitable society for all”, added Benard Oundo.

The Belgian Ambassador to Uganda, Mr. Luke Pearson while addressing the labour convention said that a lot of jobs in Uganda are in the informal sector, which is least protected by labour laws. “We need to work together to ensure equitable access to labour justice for all workers” he added. Mr. Pearson added that in Uganda, the government of Belgium is contributing to the achievement of the above through decent job creation and social protection for all. “We should look beyond the creation of jobs, and live to ensure that those employed are in decent jobs”, said Mr. Pearson.

The Deputy Attorney General, Hon. Jackson Kafuzi in his communication said that the Industrial Court of Uganda is an important forum that has been established to adjudicate labour disputes and is not bound to the strict rules of evidence. He encouraged the Workers’ MPs to organize regional sensitization conferences to teach workers about their rights, and responsibilities and the use of the court to address labour disputes.

The keynote speaker, Hon. Justice Nzioki wa Makau, a Judge of the Industrial Court of Kenya in his speech said that labour disputes generally arise from noncompliance with employment contracts, unfair dismissal, and discrimination.

The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Nobert Mao in his closing remarks said that the frontier of labour justice lies in the organisation of workers. “We need a generation of workers who have the skills to organize themselves to demand for their rights”, said Mao.

Hon. Nobert Mao added that the ministry is also mainstreaming Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to deal with labour disputes quickly and cheaply. He pledged the allocation of more judges to the Industrial Court and its decentralization to the regions to quickly address and respond to labour issues across the country.