The they can use this public land to create employment for themselves
By George Bukenya
Uganda People’s Congress Party (UPC) has argued government to pay strict observance to Labour standards, laws and justice in all working environments.
This according to the party spokesperson Arach Oyat Sharon, will help to improve the general welfare of workers which in turn will improve the overall productivity.
“Our work places need to advance the principles of equity, respect of rights, fairness and dignity of workers as well as access to resources if this year’s theme will make meaningful impact.” Arach cautioned.
While addressing reporters at the party Headquarters in Kampala, Arach said that the reality on the ground is totally different. She said that whereas several interventions have been done by government such initiation of Youth livelihood funds, Emyoga and PDM programs their impact isn’t yet feasible.
She also said that such programs meant to create employment opportunities so as to alleviate poverty have not achieved their intended objectives because government doesn’t take to study and evaluate and make needs assessment.
“ Lack of needs assessment has failed government programs like Youth Livelihood funds, Emyoga,`Bonnabagagawale`initiated overtime with intentions of creating employment opportunities geared towards alleviating poverty among households“
The congress mouthpiece said that, ‘‘some people may not need physical cash or the seedlings that government is giving out but may just need skills, the age category also matters in the needs assessment for instance you can’t give the youth seedling say of coffee to plant yet they don’t even have land to carry out such a program.’’
Mrs. Arach implored government to procure public land for the youth such that they can also engage in agriculture as a way of creating employment opportunities for them and it can in the end profit from such in form of taxes.
She also called upon government to resume spot checks to factories like it used to do so as to bring to book culprits who violet workers’ rights such subjecting them to long working hours without overtime allowance pay, taking months without payment and failure to provide protective gears in case of risky activities.
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