Social Dialogue on Implementing Convention C190

PSI affiliates in Uganda, including the National Union of Educational Institutions (NUEI), Uganda Electricity and Allied Workers Union (UEAWU), Uganda Public Employees Union (UPEU), Uganda Medical Workers Union (UMWU), National Union of Government and Allied Workers (NUGAW), Uganda Local Government Workers’ Union (ULGWU), Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union (UNMU), Uganda Scientist, Research and Allied Workers Union (USRAWU), and Uganda Agro-Farm Based Workers Union (UFABWU), engaged in social dialogue with key stakeholders on 18 June 2024, in Kampala, Uganda. The focus was on the need for domestication of C190 following the country’s ratification of the convention in August 2023, and addressing challenges that needed urgent attention in the fight towards the elimination of violence and harassment, especially gender-based violence. This dialogue was sponsored by PSI and SASK-Finland.

The dialogue included representatives from the Ministry of Public Services, which oversees all public sector unions in Uganda and is the custodian of policies that guide workplace relations within the public sector, and the Ministry of Education and Sports, directly connected to students who go for placements and internships. Student leaders, considered key actors within the expanded scope of the world of work and potential victims of violence and harassment, were also in attendance, along with representatives from the National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU), the main national center.

The affiliates engaged various officials on the challenges related to eliminating violence and harassment in the workplace, particularly focusing on workplace policies and occupational health and safety measures. They also discussed opportunities for workplace implementation.

Public sector unions expressed their frustration over the implementation of the last collective bargaining agreement, which was signed in 2018 and expired in 2023, with a new cycle to begin in August 2024. They informed the Ministry of Public Service representative that the ability to use collective bargaining as a tool for eliminating violence and harassment, especially gender-based violence, would be curtailed if the non-implementation of CBAs continued. Additionally, salary disparities based on distinctions between science and arts disciplines had led to economic harassment, resulting in a psychologically demotivated workforce and increasing instances of gender-based violence.

The unions highlighted the need to review standing orders policy to include clauses on C190 and Recommendation 206 to create a safe working environment. They emphasised the installation of CCTV cameras in various workplace spots and the creation of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) committees for all public sector workplaces. For the Ministry of Education, affiliates advised incorporating issues of violence and harassment elimination into the curriculum and conducting public lectures to raise awareness.

During the discussions, it was noted that while women were more vulnerable to GBV, male cadres in lower positions, especially drivers, also suffered silently. Some drivers had to take their bosses to evening social outings until late at night, sometimes returning home as late as 11:00 PM and leaving early by 5:00 AM, leading to family breakages and disharmony.

The Ministry representative emphasised the importance of creating safe spaces for workers to report harassment and receive a fair hearing without fear of retaliation. Government representatives advised unions on how to negotiate new CBAs and the need to build stronger unions with more members to gain the necessary bargaining power. They noted, “Government respects unions when they have bigger numbers of members out of all the workers employed.”

Concerns regarding salary discrimination were acknowledged as genuine, and the government committed to reviewing these issues to eliminate the acrimony between workers from science and arts disciplines. It was agreed that further engagement would take place beyond the two ministries, including the Ministry of Labour, the Attorney General, and other relevant ministries, to push for the commencement of domestication of C190 and its implementation at the workplace level.