People seeking employment have been encouraged to insist on written contracts before taking up jobs.
Labour officials say, the city is registering increasing cases involving unpaid wages, unfair termination and disputes arising from undocumented employment relationships.
Speaking to Favour FM, Lakwo Geoffrey Nyero the labour officer Gulu City said, many workers, especially those employed on construction sites, factories and some private companies, begin work without appointment letters or written contracts.
He notes that the vice leaves employees vulnerable to exploitation making it difficult to prove the existence of an employment relationship when disputes arise at work.
On average, the labour office receives between five to ten labour complaints each week, many of which involve unpaid wages, unfair dismissal, lack of written employment contracts, denial of statutory benefits and poor working conditions.
Labour experts say written contracts are essential in preventing misunderstandings over wages, working hours, leave entitlements and termination procedures.
Lakwo says his office provides a range of dispute resolution services for workers who experience labour rights violations which include receiving and investigating complaints, summoning employers for mediation and conciliation, facilitating amicable settlements and issuing recommendations where agreements are reached.
He further encourages Workers who feel their rights have been violated to report to Labour Office for appropriate action to be taken through the established legal mechanisms.
Under Uganda’s Employment Act, 2006, employees are entitled to written terms and conditions of employment, which clearly define the rights and obligations of both the employer and the employee.
By Martin Odong
Leave a Reply