The National Union of Lawyers, Judicial Officers and Allied Workers (NULJAW) has urged the government to urgently tackle rising unemployment, low salaries, and the absence of a minimum wage, which has forced many Ugandans into informal, low-paying jobs for survival.
According to NULJAW’s General Secretary, Peninah Tukamwesiga, one of the biggest challenges facing workers today is the lack of formal contracts, coupled with long working hours and limited job security.
“Many employees across different sectors are working without contracts, some on part-time arrangements that exploit them. Others are even denied access to pension benefits,” Tukamwesiga said.
To address these issues, NULJAW has partnered with the Uganda Law Society to advocate for stronger labour rights and ensure that practicing lawyers and other workers nationwide have access to justice.
Meanwhile, the Assistant Commissioner for Industrial Relations at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Apollo Onzoma, said the government is working with stakeholders to strengthen labour policies and improve employment conditions.
“We are engaging partners to ensure that the necessary policies and legal frameworks are implemented to protect workers and enhance job security,” Onzoma noted.
The union has pledged to continue pushing for reforms aimed at guaranteeing fair pay, pension benefits, and a regulated work environment for all Ugandan workers.