The Ministry of Gender, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and other partners, have developed the third Decent Work Country Programme to address key challenges affecting Uganda’s labour sector.
The programme aims to promote productive, inclusive, and sustainable employment opportunities for all Ugandans.
This was announced during the second day of the 3rd Annual National Labour Convention and Expo held at mestil Hotel in Kampala.
Commissioner for Labour, Industrial Relations & Productivity, Alex Asiimwe, unveiled Uganda’s Decent Work Country Programme III (2025/6–2029/30) at #ANLC2025. The programme reaffirms Uganda’s commitment to decent work, social justice & growth. Launch set for Labour Day pic.twitter.com/sJrj5EeJpj
— Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (@Mglsd_UG) April 24, 2025
While signing the programme, the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Hon. Betty Amongi, outlined the core elements of decent work, including a decent salary, job security, social protection such as health insurance, and occupational safety, among others.
“Let me start by reaffirming that the Ministry of Finance has authorized me to launch and sign this Decent Work Country Program, and they have committed that the Ministry of Finance will ensure that government joins partners in contributing to the gap that the partners will leave. So that is a commitment for Ministry of Finance.” Hon. Amongi said.
“The second issue is that His Excellency, the President, will launch this decent country work program on first May, during the Labor Day, to show commitment of government on this.” She added.
Minister went ahead to define the meaning of decent work, “For those out there, we are talking about decent work, but we are not probably clarifying What constitutes decent work. For Ugandans there who are watching us within the framework of ILO International Labor Organization, a decent work should be work that is productive for you as an employee and deliver you with decent salary,” That is a decent work.
She further stated, ” the decent work should offer you security at work. When you go to work, you must be secured in your place of work. Number three, it should give you social protection if you are a worker, you should be given social protection. That is why we are now very serious with NSSF contribution. Of course, social protection is beyond social security. It it also entails, for example, giving an employee, for example, health insurance. That is decent work.”
The other issue is, a decent work should give you freedom to organize as employees and form your unions for collective bargaining. That is decent work, and that is why we make the workers to come and make the commitment here, because for decent work, they are supposed to also go and monitor. A decent work should also provide you with all the right gears to work for addressing the issue of Occupational Safety and Health. Occupational Safety.
“I visited many factories, and I go and I find people are in a very hot environment, producing in a factory, steel factory. They don’t have gloves, they they’re in a place with high voltage of electricity. And when I ask the employer, you know what? He told me that you know these people, we give them boots, and they refuse to wear them. They instead want to wear the day they are going to visit home. They want to wear and go to the village when they are smart.” She noted.
Comenting on the third decent work programme, Ms. Caroline Mugalla, International Labour Organization country director said that this marks a renewed commitment to accelerating Uganda’s progress toward achieving decent work for all.
“The Decent Work country program is not just a policy document, it is Uganda’s flagship framework to advancing the Decent Work Agenda over the next five years. It is firmly aligned with Ugandans vision 2040, the fourth national development plan, and the United Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. In this way, it becomes a key instrument for promoting inclusive and sustainable development, leaving no one behind.” She emphasized
She noted that Uganda’s third Decent Work Country Program is designed to anticipate and respond to interconnected challenges by promoting a human centered approach to the future of the work.
The programme will cost ugx 248billion of this, government will contribute 75.6 billion.
The programme will commence on 1st July 2025 and will close on June 30, 2030 targeting to benefit workers and employers in both private and public sector in all districts and cities.
