The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party has tasked the government with making spot checks on companies to ensure that labor standards, laws, and justice for employees are respected in all working environments and that the culprits be brought to book ahead of International Labour Day, slated for May 1, 2024.

These statements were made during the party’s weekly press release, which took place on April 24, 2024, at the party headquarters in Uganda House, Kampala.

The UPC spokesperson, Arach Oyat Sharon, stated that the party is set to join the rest of the world to mark International Labour Day under the theme, “Improving access to labor justice, a prerequisite for increased productivity.”

Ayat said UPC believes that celebrating the day can only make sense when labor standards, laws, and justice for all employees are observed, which is not the reality on the ground.

“As UPC, we have witnessed an increase in the violation of workers’ rights, such as long working hours with low wages, a lack of personal protective gear, and taking months without pay. We appeal to the government to make spot checks on factories and bring the culprits to book,” Ayat stated.

The spokesperson also added that people retiring cannot access their social security funds, stating that according to the 2021 National Labour Force survey, only 14.5% of employers pay National Social Security Funds (NSSF) for their employees.

“Most employers do not remit their employees Pay as You Earn (PAYE) to NSSF, with most of them having excuses like ‘the NSSF messaging system is faulty, which is why they don’t receive their PAYE message’. We urge the government to educate the masses on employment rights,” she added.

International Labour Day is celebrated around the world on May 1 in most countries commemorating the historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labor movements.