THE LEGAL MANDATE OF LABOR UNIONS TOWARDS THE IMPROVEMENT AND PROTECTION OF WORKERS' CONDITIONS IN UGANDA AN EXAMINATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ........................................................................................................................................... i

APPROVAL .................................................................................................................................................. ii

DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................................. iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........................................................................................................................... iv

ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................................. v

LIST OF STATUTES .................................................................................................................................. vi

ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................................................. viii

CHAPTER ONE ......................................................................................................................................... I

INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... !

Background of the Study ............................................................................................................................... 2

Statement of the problem .......................................................................................... : ................................... 4

Purpose of the study ...................................................................................................................................... 5

Objectives of the study .................................................................................................................................. 5

Research Questions ....................................................................................................................................... 5

Scope of the study ......................................................................................................................................... 6

Significance of the study ............................................................................................................................... 6

Methodology ................................................................................................................................................. 6

Literature Review .......................................................................................................................................... 7

CHAPTER TWO ...................................................................................................................................... 12

The Legal Frame WorkofLabour Unions ................................................................................................... 12

The 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda ..................................................................................... 12

The Labour Union Act, 2006 ...................................................................................................................... 13

The Labour Disputes (Arbitration and Settlement) Act, 2006 .................................................................... 14

The Public Service (Negotiating, Consultative and Disputes Settlement) Act, 2008 ................................. 15

1LO Conventions ......................................................................................................................................... 16

CHAPTER THREE .................................................................................................................................. 18

Rights and Immunities of Labour Unions ................................................................................................... 18

Union recognition and collective bargaining .............................................................................................. 19

Right to strike .............................................................................................................................................. 20

No dissolution and suspension of organization by administrative authority ............................................... 21

Right to establish federations and confederations and to affiliate internationally ...................................... 21

CHAPTER FOUR ..................................................................................................................................... 22

Problems faced with labour unions ............................................................................................................. 22

Non-recognition of labour unions ............................................................................................................... 22

Casualization of labour ............................................................................................................................... 23

The government's attitude towards labour rights and its economic policies; ............................................. 24

Unemployment ............................................................................................................................................ 25

CHAPTER FIVE ....................................................................................................................................... 26

Conclusions ................................................................................................................................................ 26

Recommendations ................................................................................................................................................... 26

Bibliography ................................................................................................................................................ 28 

ABSTRACT 

A labour union is an organization by or for the workers to pursue collective workplace goals, wages, benefits, work mles and powers. They are intended to represent the collective interests of workers in negotiation with employers over wages, hours of work and working conditions. This study analyzed the adequacy of the legal mandate of labour unions in Uganda and found it adequate but only lacks political will in its implementation and enforcement due to the circumstances under which it was passed. The research also examined the rights and privileges of labour unions. The most hindrance to the enjoyment of these rights and privileges has always been the government's negative attitude towards them as this study explains in the context. The major problems facing labour unions in Uganda are; casualization of labour which leaves workers at the employers mercy since their terms and conditions of work are not expressly prescribed, unemployment, insufficient and inadequate facilitated labour officers Due to the decentralization of labour matters, there is need for the establishment of sufficient, well-funded and staffed branches of industrial courts in Uganda, urgency for the grant of the minimum wage that is appropriate to the services rendered to eliminate oppression at workplace and ensure the enforcement of all privileges and rights granted to the workers.