Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Uganda (Ratification: 1963)

Recent developments. Follow-up to the findings of the need assessment. The Committee notes with interest that the Government adopted the findings of the 2011 labour administration and inspection audit, which identified, inter alia, the following priority areas for short-term measures: (a) training for labour officers in various areas; and (b) support for the compilation and production of the annual inspection report. The Committee requests the Government to keep the Office informed of the measures taken in the framework of the follow-up to the findings of the audit, with a view to giving effect to the Convention and addressing the Committee’s previous comments.

Article 4 of the Convention. Re-establishment of the inspection system under the supervision and control of a central authority. The Committee welcomes the information from the Government’s report that a more effective implementation and enforcement of the labour laws will be achieved, inter alia, through the attainment of a stand-alone ministry. Referring to its previous comments, the Committee once again reminds the Government of the need for the labour inspection system to be under the supervision and control of a central authority, within the meaning of Article 4 of the Convention, so as to ensure equal protection for workers in industrial and commercial establishments throughout the country. The Committee requests the Government to continue to take measures to give effect, in law and in practice, to Article 4 of the Convention and to keep the Office informed of any progress achieved and where applicable, the difficulties encountered in this respect.

Article 5(a). Cooperation between the inspection services and public institutions. Concerning the implementation of the Employment Act No. 6 of 2006, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 9 of 2006, the Committee notes the information from the Government’s report that the Government is developing a comprehensive programme on integrated inspection involving other public service sector agencies that share the inspection function. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the conditions and modalities under which the referenced public service sector agencies collaborate within the framework of the comprehensive programme, and on the impact of the programme on the application of the Convention.

Articles 10, 11 and 16. Resources of the labour inspection system and inspection visits. The Committee notes the information from the Government’s report that inspection procedures have been reorganized, that inspectors have been assigned to selected sectors, and that the occupational safety and health department cooperates with the Labour Inspectorate. It also notes that, according to the Government, due to limited resources, inspections focus more on workplaces at higher risk, such as roadworks, construction sites and horticulture. The Committee requests the Government to continue to take all the necessary measures, including having recourse to international financial cooperation, to ensure that human and material resources are allocated to the labour inspection system for its effective operation.

Articles 19, 20 and 21. Publication and communication of an annual report on labour inspection. The Committee notes the Government’s commitment to publish and submit to the ILO an annual inspection report on the work of the labour inspection services with its next report. Referring to its previous comments and to its general observations of 2009 and 2010, the Committee once again requests the Government to ensure that an annual inspection report containing all the information required by Article 21 (a)–(g) will be published and that a copy will be sent to the Office in the very near future.