The chairman of the Federation of Uganda Employers, Eng. Silver Mugisha, has stated that employers play a critical role in the country’s social-economic transformation by investing in the provision of goods and services, in addition to being major taxpayers.

He made these remarks on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, during the celebration of International Labour Day, held at St. Leo’s College Kyegobe playground, Fort Portal, Kabarole District.

According to Mugisha, this year’s theme is aligned with the mandate of the Federation of Uganda Employers, whose mission is to improve employers’ competitiveness through advocacy, business services, and job creation, among other things.

He also stated that access to justice means more than improving an individual’s access to courts or quarantining legal representation.

“It is the ability of a person to seek and obtain remedies for grievances through formal and informal avenues of justice in compliance with human rights standards,” Mugisha said.

H. E. Hugues Chantry, Ambassador of Belgium to Uganda, stated that for many years, Belgium has supported Ugandans in their efforts to improve workplace standards.

He said that, based on their national experience, they believe that the only way to have a future is to do decent work.

Additionally, Chantry said that if workers understand their rights, they will be respected, adding that there are legal avenues through which they can seek redress in the event of a violation.

International Labour Day is commemorated in appreciation of the contribution of workers to national development and to raise both national and international consciousness on the importance of promoting and protecting the rights of workers.