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| Dr Kiiza Aliba, the chairman of JACODeWU and National Executive Secretary of JPD, Uganda Episcopal Conference addresses member of the press at the launch on June 25. |
The State Minister of Labor and Industrial Relations, Hon. Dr. Cos Kamanda Bataringaya, on Thursday, June 25, launched UEC Justice and Peace regional report on the decent work in the informal economy in Uganda.
The report, which was launched in Kampala, examines the activities faced by the youth and women in each of the four Ecclesiastical Provinces in Uganda under the informal economy arrangement, the challenges faced by each category and possible recommendations for the betterment of the working conditions.
The report produced by the Justice and Peace Department (JPD) of the Uganda Episcopal Conference in partnership with the German Commission for Justice and Peace, the Uganda Kolping Society (UKS) and the Uganda Mines, Metal, Oil Gas and Allied Workers’ Union among other stakeholders after holding their first meeting in July 2012 to promote decent work in the country. The collaboration then gave birth to a working group called, Joint Action Committee on Decent work in Uganda (JACODeWU).
Commenting on the report, Minister Bataringaya said, “This study is particularly timely as we move towards the goal of full employment for our people. As government this is our priority and we have already developed the informal sector strategy. I thank you for conducting these studies in the four Ecclesiastical Provinces and we shall work hand-in-hand to ensure we move forward.”
He further added that over 1.8 Ugandans are involved in the informal economy thus playing three big roles which include job creation, production and income generation.
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| (L-R) Uganda Labour Minister Bataringaya (fifth on the left) holds the report with the members of JACODeWU at the launch |
Dr Kiiza Aliba, the chairman of JACODeWU and National Executive Secretary of JPD, Uganda Episcopal Conference stated that the report incorporates a three-year review of decent work.
“JACODeWU identified a need to carry out consultative workshops with different stakeholders in the four Ecclesiastical Provinces in Uganda to discuss and share experiences on the plight of informal economy workers and jointly come up with suggestions for the betterment of their working conditions,” Dr Aliba explained.
The research was conducted between the months of June and September, 2014 attracting participants from different fields like the civil society, employers and employees in the informal economy, lecturers from higher institutions of learning, the youth representatives and government officials.
By Jacinta W. Odongo-Media Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference