Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Uganda (Ratification: 1967)

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2022, published 111st ILC session (2023)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It is therefore bound to repeat its previous comments.

Repetition

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. The Committee previously requested information on the second National Development Plan 2015/16–2019/20 (NDPII), including on the results of programmes aimed at stimulating growth and economic development, raising living standards, responding to labour force needs and addressing both unemployment and underemployment. The Government’s report does not contain information on the NDPII, instead it refers to continued challenges such as the gender pay gap, lower wages in rural areas than in urban areas, and comparatively low labour productivity. The Committee notes with interest the adoption of the third National Development Plan 2020/21–2024/25 (NDPIII), whose principal goal is “Increased Household Incomes and Improved Quality of Life of Ugandans”. According to the NDPIII, the proportion of the labour force in paid employment increased between 2011/12–2016/17, and enrolment in business, technical and vocational education and training increased significantly. The NDPIII nevertheless indicates that labour underutilization remains a challenge, as a large number of Ugandans are underemployed. The Committee notes that, according to the ILOSTAT database, as of 2017, the overall unemployment rate in Uganda stood at 9.8 per cent (8.4 per cent for men and 11.7 per cent for women, respectively). The labour force participation rate was 49.1 per cent in the same year, with a higher participation rate for men than for women (56.9 and 41.8 per cent, respectively). The ILOSTAT database also indicates that the composite rate of labour underutilization for 2017 stood at 30.9 per cent. In this context, the Committee notes that the five strategic objectives of the NDPIII include strengthening the private sector’s capacity to drive growth and create jobs, as well as enhancing the productivity and social well-being of the population.Noting the continued challenges identified by the Government in its report, the Committee requests the Government to provide detailed updated information on the active labour market measures taken and the results achieved in the implementation of the NDPIII, in terms of stimulating growth and economic development, raising living standards, responding to labour force needs and addressing unemployment and underemployment. The Committee further requests the Government to provide up-to-date statistics on current trends regarding employment, unemployment and underemployment, disaggregated by sex, age, religion, economic sector and region.

Impact of COVID-19. The Committee notes that, according to a 2020 report from the World Bank, fiscal year 2020 saw a real GDP growth of 2.9 per cent in Uganda, less than half of the 6.8 per cent recorded in fiscal year 2019, mainly due to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. The World Bank further indicates that employment recovered following the easing of mobility restrictions, with an increase in the share of employment in agriculture, but that it had not returned to previous levels in urban areas.The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the nature and impact of response and recovery measures taken in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic with a view to promoting inclusive sustainable employment and decent work. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the challenges encountered and the lessons learned in this context.

Promotion of youth employment. The Committee previously requested information on the measures envisaged or adopted to reduce the unemployment rates of young people as well as the proportion of young people in informal employment. In this respect, the Committee notes that, as of June 2020, according to the NDPIII, the youth unemployment rate stood at 13.3 per cent, and that it seeks to reduce this rate to 9.7 per cent unemployment by the end of the five-year period. According to the NDPIII, there is a large youth population in Uganda (78 per cent); however, a mismatch exists between the skills required by the labour market and the knowledge taught by training institutions. The Committee notes the high proportion of young people in informal employment. The NDPIII indicates that most non-farming employment is in the informal sector (91 per cent), with young people occupying 94.7 per cent of these jobs. The NDPIII envisages various new projects related to youth employment for the period 2020/21–2024/25, including the Youth Livelihood Programme Phase 2 and the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Nurturing for Youth Employment Project. The Committee notes the adoption of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Policy in 2019, which aims to reform the TVET system. The TVET Policy establishes a number of objectives, including improving the quality of the TVET system and strengthening the role of employers and business communities in TVET delivery. The Committee notes that, to promote the economic relevance of TVET, the TVET Policy calls for establishing and linking the TVET Management Information System to the Labour Market Information System as well as to promote lifelong learning opportunities for TVET.The Committee encourages the Government to pursue its efforts to address the issues related to youth employment identified in the NDPIII, including the skills mismatch and measures to anticipate the future needs of the labour market in the provision of TVET. It requests the Government to provide detailed information on the nature of programmes and projects implemented to promote youth employment, including in the field of TVET and in the context of the NDPIII, and their impact on access for young people to sustainable employment and decent work. In this regard, the Committee requests the Government to provide up-to-date statistics on youth employment and unemployment rates, disaggregated by sex, age, urban versus rural areas and education level, where available.

Promotion of women’s employment. In its previous comments, the Committee requested information on measures to combat persistent occupational segregation on the basis of sex and to increase the participation rate of women in the formal labour market. The Committee notes that the Uganda Women Empowerment Programme supported 43,977 women beneficiaries through 3,448 projects in the fiscal year 2017–18. The Committee nevertheless observes that the information contained in the NDPIII, also indicates that many women do not have access to arable land, and suggests that gender inequalities persist in the country, including in employment and education. The Government also provides statistics from 2016 indicating that disparities exist in the share of women and men in employment, with men accounting for most of paid employment, while women constitute the majority of the self-employed population. The Committee notes that, in its concluding observations of 12 May 2016, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities expressed concern that women with disabilities face multiple forms of discrimination, noting the lack of measures for the development, advancement and empowerment of women and girls with disabilities and expressing concern about the few opportunities open for employment for persons with disabilities (document CRPD/C/UGA/CO/1, paragraphs 10 and 52).As regards discrimination against women, including with respect to access to resources, the Committee refers the Government to its comments adopted in 2020 under the Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) and the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111). In addition, the Committee requests the Government to continue to take the necessary measures, including in the context of the NDPIII, to promote access for women to full, productive and freely chosen employment. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved through such measures, including statistics on the participation rate of women, including women with disabilities, in the informal and formal labour market.

Informal economy. The Committee notes that the Government refers to exclusions from social protection and other critical challenges existing in the informal sector, including gaps in social dialogue, widespread labour rights violations and decent work deficits. The Government nevertheless states that there is political commitment and will to overcome these challenges. In this regard, the Committee notes that the NDPIII includes a Private Sector Development Programme which has, as one of its key expected results, the reduction of the informal sector to 45 per cent in 2024/25. According to the NDPIII, the private sector in Uganda is dominated by about 1.1 million micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which altogether employ approximately 2.5 million people. Furthermore, most of the country’s start-ups do not last more than two years, because of factors such as inadequate entrepreneurial ability and low-skilled labour. The Committee notes that, according to 2020 data from the UN Capital Development Fund , the COVID-19 crisis is also likely to have an impact on informal workers, with an estimated 4.4 million informal sector workers losing their earning or seeing it fall below the poverty line.The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the impact of COVID-19 on employment in the informal economy in Uganda, the active labour market measures taken to tackle the challenges identified, and the measures taken to extend access to justice, property rights, labour rights and business rights to informal economy workers and businesses. It also requests the Government to provide information on the nature and impact of employment programmes developed and implemented in the context of the NDPIII, including the Private Sector Development Programme.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners. The Committee notes from section 1.4 of the NDPIII (approach and formulation process) that its strategic direction was informed by an extensive consultation process, based on background analytical work on past industrialization efforts and strategies, trends in key growth areas (agriculture, ICT, minerals, oil and gas), export and import performances, and sector priority papers, among others. The NDPIII also indicates that sector, regional, district and community level stakeholders were consulted in the formulation process, and that other stakeholders, including industrial and business owners, civil society, faith-based organizations and non-governmental organizations also participated in the process.The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on consultations held with employers’ and workers’ organizations in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of the NDPIII.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the near future.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2021, published 110th ILC session (2022)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. The Committee previously requested information on the second National Development Plan 2015/16–2019/20 (NDPII), including on the results of programmes aimed at stimulating growth and economic development, raising living standards, responding to labour force needs and addressing both unemployment and underemployment. The Government’s report does not contain information on the NDPII, instead it refers to continued challenges such as the gender pay gap, lower wages in rural areas than in urban areas, and comparatively low labour productivity. The Committee notes with interest the adoption of the third National Development Plan 2020/21–2024/25 (NDPIII), whose principal goal is “Increased Household Incomes and Improved Quality of Life of Ugandans”. According to the NDPIII, the proportion of the labour force in paid employment increased between 2011/12–2016/17, and enrolment in business, technical and vocational education and training increased significantly. The NDPIII nevertheless indicates that labour underutilization remains a challenge, as a large number of Ugandans are underemployed. The Committee notes that, according to the ILOSTAT database, as of 2017, the overall unemployment rate in Uganda stood at 9.8 per cent (8.4 per cent for men and 11.7 per cent for women, respectively). The labour force participation rate was 49.1 per cent in the same year, with a higher participation rate for men than for women (56.9 and 41.8 per cent, respectively). The ILOSTAT database also indicates that the composite rate of labour underutilization for 2017 stood at 30.9 per cent. In this context, the Committee notes that the five strategic objectives of the NDPIII include strengthening the private sector’s capacity to drive growth and create jobs, as well as enhancing the productivity and social well-being of the population. Noting the continued challenges identified by the Government in its report, the Committee requests the Government to provide detailed updated information on the active labour market measures taken and the results achieved in the implementation of the NDPIII, in terms of stimulating growth and economic development, raising living standards, responding to labour force needs and addressing unemployment and underemployment. The Committee further requests the Government to provide up-to-date statistics on current trends regarding employment, unemployment and underemployment, disaggregated by sex, age, religion, economic sector and region.

Impact of COVID-19. The Committee notes that, according to a 2020 report from the World Bank, fiscal year 2020 saw a real GDP growth of 2.9 per cent in Uganda, less than half of the 6.8 per cent recorded in fiscal year 2019, mainly due to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. The World Bank further indicates that employment recovered following the easing of mobility restrictions, with an increase in the share of employment in agriculture, but that it had not returned to previous levels in urban areas. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the nature and impact of response and recovery measures taken in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic with a view to promoting inclusive sustainable employment and decent work. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the challenges encountered and the lessons learned in this context.

Promotion of youth employment. The Committee previously requested information on the measures envisaged or adopted to reduce the unemployment rates of young people as well as the proportion of young people in informal employment. In this respect, the Committee notes that, as of June 2020, according to the NDPIII, the youth unemployment rate stood at 13.3 per cent, and that it seeks to reduce this rate to 9.7 per cent unemployment by the end of the five-year period. According to the NDPIII, there is a large youth population in Uganda (78 per cent); however, a mismatch exists between the skills required by the labour market and the knowledge taught by training institutions. The Committee notes the high proportion of young people in informal employment. The NDPIII indicates that most non-farming employment is in the informal sector (91 per cent), with young people occupying 94.7 per cent of these jobs. The NDPIII envisages various new projects related to youth employment for the period 2020/21–2024/25, including the Youth Livelihood Programme Phase 2 and the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Nurturing for Youth Employment Project. The Committee notes the adoption of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Policy in 2019, which aims to reform the TVET system. The TVET Policy establishes a number of objectives, including improving the quality of the TVET system and strengthening the role of employers and business communities in TVET delivery. The Committee notes that, to promote the economic relevance of TVET, the TVET Policy calls for establishing and linking the TVET Management Information System to the Labour Market Information System as well as to promote lifelong learning opportunities for TVET. The Committee encourages the Government to pursue its efforts to address the issues related to youth employment identified in the NDPIII, including the skills mismatch and measures to anticipate the future needs of the labour market in the provision of TVET. It requests the Government to provide detailed information on the nature of programmes and projects implemented to promote youth employment, including in the field of TVET and in the context of the NDPIII, and their impact on access for young people to sustainable employment and decent work. In this regard, the Committee requests the Government to provide up-to-date statistics on youth employment and unemployment rates, disaggregated by sex, age, urban versus rural areas and education level, where available.

Promotion of women’s employment. In its previous comments, the Committee requested information on measures to combat persistent occupational segregation on the basis of sex and to increase the participation rate of women in the formal labour market. The Committee notes that the Uganda Women Empowerment Programme supported 43,977 women beneficiaries through 3,448 projects in the fiscal year 2017–18. The Committee nevertheless observes that the information contained in the NDPIII, also indicates that many women do not have access to arable land, and suggests that gender inequalities persist in the country, including in employment and education. The Government also provides statistics from 2016 indicating that disparities exist in the share of women and men in employment, with men accounting for most of paid employment, while women constitute the majority of the self-employed population. The Committee notes that, in its concluding observations of 12 May 2016, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities expressed concern that women with disabilities face multiple forms of discrimination, noting the lack of measures for the development, advancement and empowerment of women and girls with disabilities and expressing concern about the few opportunities open for employment for persons with disabilities (document CRPD/C/UGA/CO/1, paragraphs 10 and 52). As regards discrimination against women, including with respect to access to resources, the Committee refers the Government to its comments adopted in 2020 under the Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) and the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111). In addition, the Committee requests the Government to continue to take the necessary measures, including in the context of the NDPIII, to promote access for women to full, productive and freely chosen employment. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved through such measures, including statistics on the participation rate of women, including women with disabilities, in the informal and formal labour market.

Informal economy. The Committee notes that the Government refers to exclusions from social protection and other critical challenges existing in the informal sector, including gaps in social dialogue, widespread labour rights violations and decent work deficits. The Government nevertheless states that there is political commitment and will to overcome these challenges. In this regard, the Committee notes that the NDPIII includes a Private Sector Development Programme which has, as one of its key expected results, the reduction of the informal sector to 45 per cent in 2024/25. According to the NDPIII, the private sector in Uganda is dominated by about 1.1 million micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which altogether employ approximately 2.5 million people. Furthermore, most of the country’s start-ups do not last more than two years, because of factors such as inadequate entrepreneurial ability and low-skilled labour. The Committee notes that, according to 2020 data from the UN Capital Development Fund , the COVID-19 crisis is also likely to have an impact on informal workers, with an estimated 4.4 million informal sector workers losing their earning or seeing it fall below the poverty line. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the impact of COVID-19 on employment in the informal economy in Uganda, the active labour market measures taken to tackle the challenges identified, and the measures taken to extend access to justice, property rights, labour rights and business rights to informal economy workers and businesses. It also requests the Government to provide information on the nature and impact of employment programmes developed and implemented in the context of the NDPIII, including the Private Sector Development Programme.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners. The Committee notes from section 1.4 of the NDPIII (approach and formulation process) that its strategic direction was informed by an extensive consultation process, based on background analytical work on past industrialization efforts and strategies, trends in key growth areas (agriculture, ICT, minerals, oil and gas), export and import performances, and sector priority papers, among others. The NDPIII also indicates that sector, regional, district and community level stakeholders were consulted in the formulation process, and that other stakeholders, including industrial and business owners, civil society, faith-based organizations and non-governmental organizations also participated in the process. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on consultations held with employers’ and workers’ organizations in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of the NDPIII.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2018, published 108th ILC session (2019)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It is therefore bound to repeat its previous comments initially made in 2017.

Repetition

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information on the results achieved and the difficulties encountered in attaining the employment policy objectives set out in its National Employment Policy (NEP). The Committee notes the detailed information contained in the evaluation of the implementation of the NEP conducted by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. According to the evaluation findings, the overarching development agenda addressed the most pressing employment challenges, but did not effectively translate into a coherent implementation strategy due to inadequate coordination across the government, inadequate labour market information, conflicting policy objectives and a bias towards short-term priorities over longer-term sustainable progress. In addition, the National Employment Council, the governmental body responsible for coordinating, guiding, streamlining and monitoring efforts towards implementation of the NEP, has not yet been established. The Committee notes that the country has registered a modest increase in total employment in recent years and that lower-productivity activities, such as subsistence agriculture and petty trade have expanded. In this regard, the Committee observes that the percentage of the formal and informal labour engaged in low productivity agricultural activities increased from 69 per cent in 2009 to 72 per cent in 2012–13. Moreover, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), the rate of unemployment under the newly revised definition (which counts subsistence farmers as employed persons) was 9.4 per cent in 2012–13, while the underemployment rate during the same period was 8.9 per cent, being especially common in the agricultural sector. Furthermore, while the percentage of people living below the poverty line decreased from 24.3 per cent in 2009–10 to 19.7 per cent in 2012–13, significant disparities in poverty levels persist across regions and between rural and urban areas, with the highest levels of poverty reported in Northern Uganda (44 per cent). The Committee notes the adoption of the second National Development Plan 2015/16-2019/20 (NDPII) in June 2015, whose principal objective is “strengthening the country’s competitiveness for sustainable wealth creation, employment and inclusive growth”. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved and the challenges encountered in attaining the employment policy objectives set out in the second National Development Plan (NDPII), including results of the programmes established to stimulate growth and economic development, raise living standards, respond to labour force needs and address unemployment and underemployment. The Committee further requests the Government to continue providing up-to-date information, including statistical data disaggregated by economic sector, sex and age, on the current situation and trends regarding the active population, employment, unemployment and underemployment throughout the country and in the different regions.

Promotion of youth employment. The Committee previously requested the Government to provide information on the results of the programmes adopted concerning education and vocational training for young persons as well as on efforts made to improve the employment situation for young persons. The Committee notes that, according to the NDPII, young persons make up 21.3 per cent of the total population and 57 per cent of the labour force. According to the UBOS, the number of young persons in employment increased from 63.1 per cent in 2013 to 64.5 per cent in 2015; however, the unemployment rate for young persons also increased from 9.7 per cent in 2013 to 14.7 per cent in 2015. Moreover, the vast majority of all young workers (92 per cent) were engaged in informal employment in 2015. The Committee notes that, in response to high rates of unemployment and poverty among young persons, in December 2016 the Government launched the Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP) under the Ministry of Labour, Gender and Social Development (MLGSD) and with the participation of key stakeholders. The YLP provides young persons with vocational skills and interest-free loans to assist them in becoming self-employed. In relation to the education of the labour force, the Committee notes that the school-to-work transition survey (SWTS–2015) developed by the ILO shows that 68 per cent of young Ugandans not in school had only completed a primary education, while only 3.4 per cent had completed a tertiary education. In this regard, the Committee notes the adoption of the National Adult Literacy Policy 2014 and Action Plan (2011/12–2015/16) intended to guide the provision and coordination of adult literacy services. In addition, during 2009–13, enrolment in formal business, technical, vocational education and training (BTVET) increased by 73 per cent (with 66 per cent men and 34 per cent women). Enrolment in higher education increased by 18 per cent, with a significant increase in female enrolment. Nevertheless, according to the SWTS-2015 findings, young persons with a tertiary level of education had higher levels of unemployment (12 per cent) than the national average. Despite the adoption of the BTVET Strategic Plan 2011–20 in 2011, persistent challenges highlighted by the NDPII in the area of vocational education and training include: inadequate skills to support increased production and expansion; poor work readiness of many young people leaving formal education and entering the labour market; inadequate linkages between employers and workplace learning; and lack of literacy. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the manner in which the implementation of the Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP) and other programmes providing education and vocational training for young persons has promoted access for young people to full, productive and freely chosen employment. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the measures envisaged or adopted to reduce the unemployment rate of young people, particularly those with higher levels of education, and to reduce the percentage of young people in informal employment.

Promotion of women’s employment. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information on the measures adopted to improve job creation and increase the labour market participation of women. The Government reports that, according to data derived from the Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS) data 2012–13, 45 per cent of the total employed population were women, but only 39.1 per cent were in wage employment. The NDPII indicates that there has been improvement in the number of women in political leadership and in terms of gender parity in enrolment of boys and girls at the primary school level, in addition to increased ownership of land by women. The Committee also notes the prioritization of gender equality in Uganda’s Vision Statement 2020 as a cross-cutting enabler for socio-economic transformation, and the implementation of the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP) under the MLGSD, with the aim of contributing to the creation of self-employment and household wealth through activities such as the mobilization and sensitization of communities, training and capacity development, and provision of access to credit, appropriate technology and markets. The Committee notes, however, that despite the progress made, the conditions sustaining gender inequality persist: gender disparities in access and control over productive resources such as land (only 27 per cent of registered land is owned by women); the limited share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector; higher rates of illiteracy among the female labour force than the male labour force (27.6 per cent of women and 12.3 per cent of men have no formal schooling). Recalling the Committee’s 2014 comments under the Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100), concerning the occupational segregation of women and its contribution to the gender pay gap, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to combat the persistence of occupational segregation on the basis of sex (both vertical and horizontal) and to increase the labour force participation rate of women in the formal labour market.

Informal economy. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information on the measures adopted or envisaged to extend access to justice, property rights, labour rights and business rights to the informal economy workers and business, and to indicate the manner in which Government initiatives relating to micro-enterprises had contributed to improving working conditions in the informal economy. The Committee notes the growing importance of the informal economy, which has absorbed four out of five new entrants into the labour market. According to the SWTS–2015, 92 per cent of young workers were involved in informal employment (93 per cent women and 91 per cent men). The rate of informal employment in rural areas was higher (94 per cent) than that in urban areas (87 per cent). The Government indicates, moreover, that the informal economy is characterized by widespread labour right violations and decent work deficits. In particular, workers in the informal sector are excluded from social security protection and there are important gaps in terms of social dialogue. The Committee notes that the majority of micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), operate informally. In this respect, the Committee notes the adoption, in consultation with stakeholders, of the Micro-, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Policy in June 2015, which provides opportunities for informal MSMEs to increase their expertise through skills upgrading and certification, and encourages them to formalize their operations in order to enjoy greater legitimacy through government protection. Noting that a growing proportion of the labour force is employed in the informal economy, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the efforts made to extend access to justice, property rights, labour rights and business rights to informal economy workers and business (see General Survey of 2010 on employment instruments, paragraph 697). It also requests the Government to indicate the manner in which the Micro-, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Policy has contributed to improving working conditions in the informal economy, particularly for young persons.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners. The Committee notes that the NDPII was formulated in collaboration with stakeholders, including ministries, local governments, the private sector, civil society organizations and international agencies. In addition, the NDPII emphasizes that the Government should take overall responsibility for its implementation with the participation of the private sector, development partners, the civil society and other non-state actors. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the involvement of the social partners in the implementation of the second National Development Plan (NDPII).

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the near future.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information on the results achieved and the difficulties encountered in attaining the employment policy objectives set out in its National Employment Policy (NEP). The Committee notes the detailed information contained in the evaluation of the implementation of the NEP conducted by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. According to the evaluation findings, the overarching development agenda addressed the most pressing employment challenges, but did not effectively translate into a coherent implementation strategy due to inadequate coordination across the government, inadequate labour market information, conflicting policy objectives and a bias towards short-term priorities over longer-term sustainable progress. In addition, the National Employment Council, the governmental body responsible for coordinating, guiding, streamlining and monitoring efforts towards implementation of the NEP, has not yet been established. The Committee notes that the country has registered a modest increase in total employment in recent years and that lower-productivity activities, such as subsistence agriculture and petty trade have expanded. In this regard, the Committee observes that the percentage of the formal and informal labour engaged in low productivity agricultural activities increased from 69 per cent in 2009 to 72 per cent in 2012–13. Moreover, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), the rate of unemployment under the newly revised definition (which counts subsistence farmers as employed persons) was 9.4 per cent in 2012–13, while the underemployment rate during the same period was 8.9 per cent, being especially common in the agricultural sector. Furthermore, while the percentage of people living below the poverty line decreased from 24.3 per cent in 2009–10 to 19.7 per cent in 2012–13, significant disparities in poverty levels persist across regions and between rural and urban areas, with the highest levels of poverty reported in Northern Uganda (44 per cent). The Committee notes the adoption of the second National Development Plan 2015/16-2019/20 (NDPII) in June 2015, whose principal objective is “strengthening the country’s competitiveness for sustainable wealth creation, employment and inclusive growth”. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved and the challenges encountered in attaining the employment policy objectives set out in the second National Development Plan (NDPII), including results of the programmes established to stimulate growth and economic development, raise living standards, respond to labour force needs and address unemployment and underemployment. The Committee further requests the Government to continue providing up-to-date information, including statistical data disaggregated by economic sector, sex and age, on the current situation and trends regarding the active population, employment, unemployment and underemployment throughout the country and in the different regions.

Promotion of youth employment. The Committee previously requested the Government to provide information on the results of the programmes adopted concerning education and vocational training for young persons as well as on efforts made to improve the employment situation for young persons. The Committee notes that, according to the NDPII, young persons make up 21.3 per cent of the total population and 57 per cent of the labour force. According to the UBOS, the number of young persons in employment increased from 63.1 per cent in 2013 to 64.5 per cent in 2015; however, the unemployment rate for young persons also increased from 9.7 per cent in 2013 to 14.7 per cent in 2015. Moreover, the vast majority of all young workers (92 per cent) were engaged in informal employment in 2015. The Committee notes that, in response to high rates of unemployment and poverty among young persons, in December 2016 the Government launched the Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP) under the Ministry of Labour, Gender and Social Development (MLGSD) and with the participation of key stakeholders. The YLP provides young persons with vocational skills and interest-free loans to assist them in becoming self-employed. In relation to the education of the labour force, the Committee notes that the school-to-work transition survey (SWTS–2015) developed by the ILO shows that 68 per cent of young Ugandans not in school had only completed a primary education, while only 3.4 per cent had completed a tertiary education. In this regard, the Committee notes the adoption of the National Adult Literacy Policy 2014 and Action Plan (2011/12–2015/16) intended to guide the provision and coordination of adult literacy services. In addition, during 2009–13, enrolment in formal business, technical, vocational education and training (BTVET) increased by 73 per cent (with 66 per cent men and 34 per cent women). Enrolment in higher education increased by 18 per cent, with a significant increase in female enrolment. Nevertheless, according to the SWTS-2015 findings, young persons with a tertiary level of education had higher levels of unemployment (12 per cent) than the national average. Despite the adoption of the BTVET Strategic Plan 2011–20 in 2011, persistent challenges highlighted by the NDPII in the area of vocational education and training include: inadequate skills to support increased production and expansion; poor work readiness of many young people leaving formal education and entering the labour market; inadequate linkages between employers and workplace learning; and lack of literacy. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the manner in which the implementation of the Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP) and other programmes providing education and vocational training for young persons has promoted access for young people to full, productive and freely chosen employment. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the measures envisaged or adopted to reduce the unemployment rate of young people, particularly those with higher levels of education, and to reduce the percentage of young people in informal employment.

Promotion of women’s employment. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information on the measures adopted to improve job creation and increase the labour market participation of women. The Government reports that, according to data derived from the Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS) data 2012–13, 45 per cent of the total employed population were women, but only 39.1 per cent were in wage employment. The NDPII indicates that there has been improvement in the number of women in political leadership and in terms of gender parity in enrolment of boys and girls at the primary school level, in addition to increased ownership of land by women. The Committee also notes the prioritization of gender equality in Uganda’s Vision Statement 2020 as a cross-cutting enabler for socio-economic transformation, and the implementation of the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP) under the MLGSD, with the aim of contributing to the creation of self-employment and household wealth through activities such as the mobilization and sensitization of communities, training and capacity development, and provision of access to credit, appropriate technology and markets. The Committee notes, however, that despite the progress made, the conditions sustaining gender inequality persist: gender disparities in access and control over productive resources such as land (only 27 per cent of registered land is owned by women); the limited share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector; higher rates of illiteracy among the female labour force than the male labour force (27.6 per cent of women and 12.3 per cent of men have no formal schooling). Recalling the Committee’s 2014 comments under the Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100), concerning the occupational segregation of women and its contribution to the gender pay gap, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to combat the persistence of occupational segregation on the basis of sex (both vertical and horizontal) and to increase the labour force participation rate of women in the formal labour market.

Informal economy. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information on the measures adopted or envisaged to extend access to justice, property rights, labour rights and business rights to the informal economy workers and business, and to indicate the manner in which Government initiatives relating to micro-enterprises had contributed to improving working conditions in the informal economy. The Committee notes the growing importance of the informal economy, which has absorbed four out of five new entrants into the labour market. According to the SWTS–2015, 92 per cent of young workers were involved in informal employment (93 per cent women and 91 per cent men). The rate of informal employment in rural areas was higher (94 per cent) than that in urban areas (87 per cent). The Government indicates, moreover, that the informal economy is characterized by widespread labour right violations and decent work deficits. In particular, workers in the informal sector are excluded from social security protection and there are important gaps in terms of social dialogue. The Committee notes that the majority of micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), operate informally. In this respect, the Committee notes the adoption, in consultation with stakeholders, of the Micro-, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Policy in June 2015, which provides opportunities for informal MSMEs to increase their expertise through skills upgrading and certification, and encourages them to formalize their operations in order to enjoy greater legitimacy through government protection. Noting that a growing proportion of the labour force is employed in the informal economy, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the efforts made to extend access to justice, property rights, labour rights and business rights to informal economy workers and business (see General Survey of 2010 on employment instruments, paragraph 697). It also requests the Government to indicate the manner in which the Micro-, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Policy has contributed to improving working conditions in the informal economy, particularly for young persons.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners. The Committee notes that the NDPII was formulated in collaboration with stakeholders, including ministries, local governments, the private sector, civil society organizations and international agencies. In addition, the NDPII emphasizes that the Government should take overall responsibility for its implementation with the participation of the private sector, development partners, the civil society and other non-state actors. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the involvement of the social partners in the implementation of the second National Development Plan (NDPII).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It is therefore bound to repeat its previous comments.

Repetition

Article 2 of the Convention. Labour market information system. In its report received in June 2012, the Government indicates that the Labour Market Information Unit (LMI) is a small structure in the Directorate of Labour where capacity building is needed in order to enable the LMI to carry out regular studies on different aspects of employment and labour. The Committee notes the detailed statistical information contained in the second issue of the Labour Market Information Bulletin was published in 2010. It further notes that Uganda is among the countries participating in the Project on the Improvement of Labour Market Information in Africa (2010–12) funded by the African Capacity Building Foundation. The overall objective of the project is to develop the capacity to collect, analyse and disseminate labour market information in a continuous and timely manner. The Committee invites the Government to include in its next report up-to-date information on the current situation and trends regarding the active population, employment, unemployment and underemployment throughout the country and in the different regions, by sector of activity, sex, age and level of qualifications.

Articles 1 and 2. Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. Following its previous observations, the Committee recalls that the National Employment Policy (NEP) for Uganda was completed, adopted by Cabinet and launched by the President in May 2011. The NEP addressed the problems of unemployment, underemployment, labour productivity and poverty in the country. Furthermore, the NEP stressed that despite Government poverty reduction efforts, the number of Ugandans living under poverty (7.5 million according to the data provided by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) in 2009) is still high and that addressing unemployment and underemployment is one of the ways to further reduce poverty levels. The Committee invites the Government to provide information in its next report on the results achieved and the difficulties encountered in attaining the employment policy objectives set out in the National Employment Policy, including results of the programmes established to stimulate growth and economic development, raise living standards, respond to labour force needs and resolve the problems of unemployment and underemployment.

Promotion of youth employment. The Committee recalls that the NEP indicated that the population was predominantly young with children and youth constituting 75 per cent of the total population. According to the UBOS, the youth population was estimated to increase from 5.4 million in 2002 to 8.5 million in 2015. Despite the introduction of universal primary education, the majority of new entrants to the labour force over the period 2002–03 to 2009–10 had not completed primary education. Poor training, low productivity jobs and low wages trap the working poor and exclude young persons from participating in economic growth. The Committee notes that the NEP also emphasized that the youth requires to be instilled with, among others, a positive work culture, commitment and dedication to work, including discipline, career guidance and counselling and provision of skills to enable them to meet the current needs of the labour market. The Committee invites the Government to provide information in its next report on the results of programmes concerning education and vocational training for young persons. Please also provide information on the efforts made to improve the employment situation for young persons and the results achieved in terms of designing targeted programmes and incentives for promotion of sustainable job creation for the youth.

Promotion of women’s employment. The Committee recalls that women represent over 50 per cent of the labour force. A larger percentage of the female rather than the male labour force is illiterate. Unequal access to education restricts women to sectors with low productivity and low wages, and most of the young unemployed persons are women. The Government indicates that women in Uganda constitute the majority of farmers and unpaid workers as they are responsible for most of the care economy. Only 12 per cent of women are in wage employment compared to the 25 per cent of economically active men (the male participation rate in wage sectors is more than three times that of women). The Committee notes that there is a sharp segregation of women into low-paying sectors such as agriculture; women in low-paying sectors receive at most half the average male wage. Recalling the Committee’s comments under the Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100), as to the occupation segregation of women and its contribution to the gender pay gap, the Committee invites the Government to provide information in its next report on Convention No. 122 on the efforts to improve job creation and increase labour market participation for women as a result of the measures adopted.

Informal economy. The Committee notes that, according to the Labour Market Information Bulletin, 63.7 per cent of those who worked outside agriculture were working in the informal sector; in the case of the female workforce such ratio was equivalent to 67.2 per cent, while in the case of the male workforce it was equivalent to 61.1 per cent. Approximately 60 per cent of the urban workforce and 67 per cent of the rural workforce were working in the informal sector. The Committee invites the Government to provide information in its next report on the efforts made to extend access to justice, property rights, labour rights and business rights to the informal economy workers and business (see 2010 General Survey concerning employment instruments, paragraph 697). It also invites the Government to indicate how the initiatives relating to micro-enterprises have contributed to improving the working conditions in the informal economy.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners. The Committee recalls that the NEP was developed by a National Taskforce comprising ministry officials, representatives of the Federation of Uganda Employers, of the unions and of the Uganda Bureau of Statistics. Furthermore, the NEP stressed that the Government should take overall responsibility for its implementation with the participation of other actors, including the private sector, employers’ and workers’ organizations, development partners, as well as other stakeholders. The Ministry responsible for Labour was responsible for spearheading the implementation of the policy in collaboration with other ministries, social partners and agencies that play a key role in employment creation. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report examples of the questions addressed or the decisions reached on employment policy through tripartite bodies. It would also appreciate to receive information on the involvement of the social partners in the implementation of the National Employment Policy.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2012, published 102nd ILC session (2013)

Article 2 of the Convention. Labour market information system. In its report received in June 2012, the Government indicates that the Labour Market Information Unit (LMI) is a small structure in the Directorate of Labour where capacity building is needed in order to enable the LMI to carry out regular studies on different aspects of employment and labour. The Committee notes with interest the detailed statistical information contained in the second issue of the Labour Market Information Bulletin was published in 2010. It further notes that Uganda is among the countries participating in the Project on the Improvement of Labour Market Information in Africa (2010–12) funded by the African Capacity Building Foundation. The overall objective of the project is to develop the capacity to collect, analyse and disseminate labour market information in a continuous and timely manner. The Committee invites the Government to include in its next report up-to-date information on the current situation and trends regarding the active population, employment, unemployment and underemployment throughout the country and in the different regions, by sector of activity, sex, age and level of qualifications.

Articles 1 and 2. Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. Following its previous observations, the Committee recalls that the National Employment Policy (NEP) for Uganda was completed, adopted by Cabinet and launched by the President in May 2011. The NEP addressed the problems of unemployment, underemployment, labour productivity and poverty in the country. Furthermore, the NEP stressed that despite Government poverty reduction efforts, the number of Ugandans living under poverty (7.5 million according to the data provided by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) in 2009) is still high and that addressing unemployment and underemployment is one of the ways to further reduce poverty levels. The Committee invites the Government to provide information in its next report on the results achieved and the difficulties encountered in attaining the employment policy objectives set out in the National Employment Policy, including results of the programmes established to stimulate growth and economic development, raise living standards, respond to labour force needs and resolve the problems of unemployment and underemployment.

Promotion of youth employment. The Committee recalls that the NEP indicated that the population was predominantly young with children and youth constituting 75 per cent of the total population. According to the UBOS, the youth population was estimated to increase from 5.4 million in 2002 to 8.5 million in 2015. Despite the introduction of universal primary education, the majority of new entrants to the labour force over the period 2002–03 to 2009–10 had not completed primary education. Poor training, low productivity jobs and low wages trap the working poor and exclude young persons from participating in economic growth. The Committee notes that the NEP also emphasized that the youth requires to be instilled with, among others, a positive work culture, commitment and dedication to work, including discipline, career guidance and counselling and provision of skills to enable them to meet the current needs of the labour market. The Committee invites the Government to provide information in its next report on the results of programmes concerning education and vocational training for young persons. Please also provide information on the efforts made to improve the employment situation for young persons and the results achieved in terms of designing targeted programmes and incentives for promotion of sustainable job creation for the youth.

Promotion of women’s employment. The Committee recalls that women represent over 50 per cent of the labour force. A larger percentage of the female rather than the male labour force is illiterate. Unequal access to education restricts women to sectors with low productivity and low wages, and most of the young unemployed persons are women. The Government indicates that women in Uganda constitute the majority of farmers and unpaid workers as they are responsible for most of the care economy. Only 12 per cent of women are in wage employment compared to the 25 per cent of economically active men (the male participation rate in wage sectors is more than three times that of women). The Committee notes that there is a sharp segregation of women into low-paying sectors such as agriculture; women in low-paying sectors receive at most half the average male wage. Recalling the Committee’s comments under the Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100), as to the occupation segregation of women and its contribution to the gender pay gap, the Committee invites the Government to provide information in its next report on Convention No. 122 on the efforts to improve job creation and increase labour market participation for women as a result of the measures adopted.

Informal economy. The Committee notes that, according to the Labour Market Information Bulletin, 63.7 per cent of those who worked outside agriculture were working in the informal sector; in the case of the female workforce such ratio was equivalent to 67.2 per cent, while in the case of the male workforce it was equivalent to 61.1 per cent. Approximately 60 per cent of the urban workforce and 67 per cent of the rural workforce were working in the informal sector. The Committee invites the Government to provide information in its next report on the efforts made to extend access to justice, property rights, labour rights and business rights to the informal economy workers and business (see 2010 General Survey concerning employment instruments, paragraph 697). It also invites the Government to indicate how the initiatives relating to micro-enterprises have contributed to improving the working conditions in the informal economy.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners. The Committee recalls that the NEP was developed by a National Taskforce comprising ministry officials, representatives of the Federation of Uganda Employers, of the unions and of the Uganda Bureau of Statistics. Furthermore, the NEP stressed that the Government should take overall responsibility for its implementation with the participation of other actors, including the private sector, employers’ and workers’ organizations, development partners, as well as other stakeholders. The Ministry responsible for Labour was responsible for spearheading the implementation of the policy in collaboration with other ministries, social partners and agencies that play a key role in employment creation. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report examples of the questions addressed or the decisions reached on employment policy through tripartite bodies. It would also appreciate to receive information on the involvement of the social partners in the implementation of the National Employment Policy.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. Following its previous observations, the Committee notes with interest that the National Employment Policy (NEP) for Uganda was completed, adopted by Cabinet and launched by the President in May 2011. The Government commended the ILO in providing technical support for the preparation of the NEP. The Committee observes that the NEP addresses the problems of unemployment, underemployment, labour productivity and poverty in the country. It also emphasizes that employment creation is central to the national socio-economic development process. Furthermore, the NEP stresses that despite Government poverty reduction efforts, the number of Ugandans living under poverty (7.5 million according to the data provided by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) in 2009) is still high and that addressing unemployment and underemployment is one of the ways to further reduce poverty levels. The Committee expresses its appreciation with regard to the efforts made to implement an active employment policy within the meaning of the Convention. It invites the Government to provide information in its next report on the results achieved and the difficulties encountered in attaining the employment policy objectives set out in the National Employment Policy, including results of the programmes established to stimulate growth and economic development, raise living standards, respond to labour force needs and resolve the problems of unemployment and underemployment.

Article 2. Collection and analysis of employment data. The NEP recognises that the twin challenge of poverty and unemployment is at the core of the transformation of Uganda from a poor agrarian economy to a modern, prosperous and skilled society. Accordingly, the NEP has laid a strategic framework to direct efforts towards employment intensive interventions within a stable macro-economic environment. In this respect, the NEP emphasizes that monitoring and evaluating the implementation and impact of policy measures at all levels shall be carried out on regular basis using appropriate indicators. This will involve full participation of the government ministries and departments, private sector, workers’ and employers’ organizations and civil society. The Government recognises that accurate and timely labour market information on jobs, jobseekers, labour mobility, employment levels, real wages, and hours worked and desired skills, among others, in the public and private sector, especially in the small-scale unregistered private sector, is essential to this policy. Labour market information enables the monitoring of the employment situation and trends, as well as the design of appropriate policies. The Committee invites the Government to include in its next report up-to-date information on the current situation and trends regarding the active population, employment, unemployment and underemployment throughout the country and in the different regions, by sector of activity, gender, age and level of qualifications.

Labour market information system. The Government indicates in its report that to strengthen the labour market, it has created a unit for the collection of labour market information in the Directorate of Labour. The unit works very closely with the UBOS. It also indicates that the capacity of the unit to collect, analyse and disseminate information on the employment situation needs to be developed. Further steps have been taken to update the labour market database to cater to the new demands of information and statistics nationwide and in East African Community. The Committee invites the Government to indicate in its next report whether any particular difficulties have been encountered in improving the labour market information system.

Promotion of youth employment. The Committee notes that there are differences in employment levels by gender, education attainment, residence, whether urban or rural, and by age. The NEP indicates that the population is predominantly young with children and youth constituting 75 per cent of the total population. It further indicates that Uganda’s labour force is young, untrained, unskilled and rural-based. According to the UBOS, the youth population is estimated to increase from 5.4 million in 2002 to 8.5 million in 2015. The high total fertility rates (6.38 per cent) in Uganda are the proximate cause of the fast rate of growth of new young entrants to the labour force. The Committee notes that despite the introduction of Universal Primary Education, the majority of new entrants to the labour force over the period 2002–03 to 2009–10 had not completed primary education. Poor training, low productivity jobs and low wages trap the working poor and exclude young persons from participating in economic growth. The Committee notes that the NEP also emphasizes that youth requires to be instilled with, among others, a positive work culture, commitment and dedication to work, including discipline, career guidance and counselling and provision of skills to enable them to meet the current needs of the labour market. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the results of programmes concerning education and vocational training for young persons. Please also provide information on the efforts made to improve the employment situation for young persons and the results achieved in terms of designing targeted programmes and incentives for promotion of sustainable job creation for the youth.

Promotion of women’s employment. The Committee notes that women represent over 50 per cent of the labour force. A larger percentage of the female rather than the male labour force is illiterate. Unequal access to education restricts women to sectors with low productivity and low wages, and most of the young unemployed persons are women. The Government indicates that women in Uganda constitute the majority of farmers and unpaid workers as they are responsible for most of the care economy. Only 12 per cent of women are in wage employment compared to the 25 per cent of economically active men (the male participation rate in wage sectors is more than three times that of women). The Committee notes that there is a sharp segregation of women into low paying sectors such as agriculture; women in the lowing paying sectors receive at most half the average male wage. Recalling the Committee’s comments under the Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) as to the occupation segregation of women and its contribution to the gender pay gap, the Committee invites the Government to provide information in its next report on Convention No. 122 on the efforts to improve job creation and increase labour market participation for women as a result of the measures adopted.

Informal economy. The Committee notes that, according to the NEP, the informal sector is growing and generates both wage and self-employment opportunities in unregistered small and micro-enterprises. Informal employment constitutes 67 per cent of the total employment outside agriculture. The 2009–10 Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS) indicates that 1.2 million households operated off-farm informal businesses engaging 3.5 million persons. Out of these, 600,000 persons and one million persons respectively were engaged in trade and manufacturing. The Government indicates that the informal sector will continue to be a major employer for some time and that more information is required on the full range of its activities, as well as on its capacity to generate decent wage earning opportunities. It also indicates that despite the fact that the informal sector currently provides alternative employment to the majority of the labour force, it is insufficiently supported, hence the need for measures to develop it, enable it to grow and provide better job opportunities. The Committee invites the Government to provide information in its next report on the efforts made to extend access to justice, property rights, labour rights and business rights to the informal economy workers and business (see 2010 General Survey concerning employment instruments, paragraph 697). It also invites the Government to indicate how the initiatives relating to micro-enterprises have contributed to improving the working conditions in the informal economy.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners. The Government indicates that the NEP was developed by a National Taskforce comprising ministry officials, representatives of the Federation of Uganda Employers and of the unions, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics and others key stakeholders. Furthermore, the NEP emphasizes that the Government shall take overall responsibility for its implementation with the participation of other actors, including the private sector, employers’ and workers’ organizations, development partners, as well as other stakeholders. The Committee notes that the Ministry responsible for Labour shall spearhead the implementation of the policy in collaboration with other ministries, social partners and agencies that play a key role in employment creation. The Committee invites the Government to provide examples of the questions addressed or the decisions reached on employment policy through tripartite bodies. It would also appreciate continuing to receive information on the involvement of the social partners in the implementation of the National Employment Policy.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government has not provided any information on the application of the Convention since its last report received in June 2004. The Committee trusts that the Government will be able to provide a detailed report on the application of the Convention, including information in reply to the points raised in the Committee’s previous observations, which set forth the following matters:

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. The Committee recalls that the draft National Employment Policy was to be submitted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to Cabinet in July 2004 for consideration and adoption. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information in its next report on the measures taken to ensure that employment, as a key element of poverty reduction, is central to macroeconomic and social policies. It asks the Government to report on the status of the draft National Employment Policy and the Poverty Eradication Action Plan, as well as any evaluation on the impact of its programmes to combat unemployment focusing on university graduates. The Committee emphasizes the importance of establishing a system for compilation of labour market data and requests the Government to report on any progress made in this field. It asks the Government to provide in its next report disaggregated data on trends in the labour market, including information on the situation, level and trends of employment, underemployment and unemployment throughout the country and the extent to which they affect the most vulnerable categories of workers (such as women, young persons and rural workers).

Article 3. Participation of the social partners. The Government indicated that during the development of the draft National Employment Policy, the views of all affected persons were taken into account through the various workshops held. The Committee recalls that Article 3 of the Convention requires consultations with representatives of all persons affected, and particularly representatives of employers and workers, in the formulation and implementation of employment policies. It is the joint responsibility of the Government and the representative organizations of employers and workers to ensure that representatives of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups of the active population are associated as closely as possible with the formulation and implementation of measures of which they should be the prime beneficiaries. The Committee would appreciate receiving information on the involvement of the social partners in the matters covered by the Convention.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

The Committee notes that the Government has not provided any information on the application of the Convention since its last report received in June 2004. The Committee trusts that the Government will be able to provide a detailed report on the application of the Convention, including information in reply to the points raised in the Committee’s 2008 observation, which sets forth the following matters:

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. The Committee recalls that the draft National Employment Policy was to be submitted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to Cabinet in July 2004 for consideration and adoption. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information in its next report on the measures taken to ensure that employment, as a key element of poverty reduction, is central to macroeconomic and social policies. It asks the Government to report on the status of the draft National Employment Policy and the Poverty Eradication Action Plan, as well as any evaluation on the impact of its programmes to combat unemployment focusing on university graduates.

The Committee emphasizes the importance of establishing a system for compilation of labour market data and requests the Government to report on any progress made in this field. It asks the Government to provide in its next report disaggregated data on trends in the labour market, including information on the situation, level and trends of employment, underemployment and unemployment throughout the country and the extent to which they affect the most vulnerable categories of workers (such as women, young persons and rural workers).

Article 3. Participation of the social partners. The Government indicated that during the development of the draft National Employment Policy, the views of all affected persons were taken into account through the various workshops held. The Committee recalls that Article 3 of the Convention requires consultations with representatives of all persons affected, and particularly representatives of employers and workers, in the formulation and implementation of employment policies. It is the joint responsibility of the Government and the representative organizations of employers and workers to ensure that representatives of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups of the active population are associated as closely as possible with the formulation and implementation of measures of which they should be the prime beneficiaries. The Committee would appreciate receiving information on the involvement of the social partners in the matters covered by the Convention.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2010.]

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government has not supplied any information on the application of the Convention since its last report received in June 2004. The Committee asks the Government to provide a detailed report containing clear and up to date information in reply to its 2005 observation, which read as follows:

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. The Committee recalls that the draft National Employment Policy was to be submitted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to Cabinet in July 2004 for consideration and adoption. While the Government explained that the draft National Employment Policy represents the first comprehensive action to address the problems of unemployment, underemployment, labour productivity and poverty in the country, it acknowledged that employment remains one of its greatest challenges since more than half of the population lives below the poverty line. Unemployment and underemployment are rampant among women, youth and graduates from institutions of higher learning, tertiary and other institutions. The Government has thus included employment objectives in the development plans and programmes, such as the Poverty Eradication Action Plan aimed at accelerating economic growth and the eradication of poverty. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information in its next report on the measures taken to ensure that employment, as a key element of poverty reduction, is central to macroeconomic and social policies. It asks the Government to report on the status of the draft National Employment Policy and the Poverty Eradication Action Plan, as well as any evaluation on the impact of its programmes to combat unemployment focusing on university graduates.

The Committee emphasizes the importance of establishing a system for compilation of labour market data and requests the Government to report on any progress made in this field. It asks the Government to provide in its next report disaggregated data on trends in the labour market, including information on the situation, level and trends of employment, underemployment and unemployment throughout the country and the extent to which they affect the most vulnerable categories of workers (such as women, young persons and rural workers).

Article 3. Participation of the social partners. The Government indicated that during the development of the draft National Employment Policy, the views of all affected persons were taken into account through the various workshops held. The Committee takes due note of this information and recalls that Article 3 of the Convention requires consultations with representatives of all persons affected, and particularly representatives of employers and workers, in the formulation and implementation of employment policies. It is the joint responsibility of the Government and the representative organizations of employers and workers to ensure that representatives of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups of the active population are associated as closely as possible with the formulation and implementation of measures of which they should be the prime beneficiaries (see paragraph 493 of the General Survey of 2004 zon promoting employment). The Committee would appreciate continuing to receive information on the involvement of the social partners in the matters covered by the Convention.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

1. The Committee notes with regret that the Government has not supplied any information on the application of the Convention since its last report received in June 2004. The Committee asks the Government to provide a detailed report containing clear and up to date information in reply to its 2005 observation, which read as follows.

2. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. The Committee recalls that the draft National Employment Policy was to be submitted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to Cabinet in July 2004 for consideration and adoption. While the Government explained that the draft National Employment Policy represents the first comprehensive action to address the problems of unemployment, underemployment, labour productivity and poverty in the country, it acknowledged that employment remains one of its greatest challenges since more than half of the population lives below the poverty line. Unemployment and underemployment are rampant among women, youth and graduates from institutions of higher learning, tertiary and other institutions. The Government has thus included employment objectives in the development plans and programmes, such as the Poverty Eradication Action Plan aimed at accelerating economic growth and the eradication of poverty. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information in its next report on the measures taken to ensure that employment, as a key element of poverty reduction, is central to macroeconomic and social policies. It asks the Government to report on the status of the draft National Employment Policy and the Poverty Eradication Action Plan, as well as any evaluation on the impact of its programmes to combat unemployment focusing on university graduates.

3. The Committee emphasizes the importance of establishing a system for compilation of labour market data and requests the Government to report on any progress made in this field. It asks the Government to provide in its next report disaggregated data on trends in the labour market, including information on the situation, level and trends of employment, underemployment and unemployment throughout the country and the extent to which they affect the most vulnerable categories of workers (such as women, young persons and rural workers).

4. Article 3. Participation of the social partners. The Government indicated that during the development of the draft National Employment Policy, the views of all affected persons were taken into account through the various workshops held. The Committee takes due note of this information and recalls that Article 3 of the Convention requires consultations with representatives of all persons affected, and particularly representatives of employers and workers, in the formulation and implementation of employment policies. It is the joint responsibility of the Government and the representative organizations of employers and workers to ensure that representatives of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups of the active population are associated as closely as possible with the formulation and implementation of measures of which they should be the prime beneficiaries (see paragraph 493 of the 2004 General Survey on promoting employment). The Committee would appreciate continuing to receive information on the involvement of the social partners in the matters covered by the Convention.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report due in 2006 has not been received. It is therefore bound to repeat the main points raised in its observation of 2005 on the following issues:

1. Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. The Committee recalls that the draft National Employment Policy was to be submitted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to Cabinet in July 2004 for consideration and adoption. While the Government explained that the draft National Employment Policy represents the first comprehensive action to address the problems of unemployment, underemployment, labour productivity and poverty in the country, it acknowledged that employment remains one of its greatest challenges since more than half of the population lives below the poverty line. Unemployment and underemployment are rampant among women, youth and graduates from institutions of higher learning, tertiary and other institutions. The Government has thus included employment objectives in the development plans and programmes, such as the Poverty Eradication Action Plan aimed at accelerating economic growth and the eradication of poverty. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information in its next report on the measures taken to ensure that employment, as a key element of poverty reduction, is central to macroeconomic and social policies. It asks the Government to report on the status of the draft National Employment Policy and the Poverty Eradication Action Plan, as well as any evaluation on the impact of its programmes to combat unemployment focusing on university graduates (Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention).

2. The Committee emphasizes the importance of establishing a system for compilation of labour market data and requests the Government to report on any progress made in this field and asks the Government to provide in its next report disaggregated data on trends in the labour market, including information on the situation, level and trends of employment, underemployment and unemployment throughout the country and the extent to which they affect the most vulnerable categories of workers (such as women, young persons and rural workers).

3. Participation of the social partners. The Government indicated that during the development of the draft National Employment Policy, the views of all affected persons were taken into account through the various workshops held. The Committee takes due note of this information and recalls that Article 3 of the Convention requires consultations with representatives of all persons affected, and particularly representatives of employers and workers, in the formulation and implementation of employment policies. It is the joint responsibility of the Government and the representative organizations of employers and workers to ensure that representatives of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups of the active population are associated as closely as possible with the formulation and implementation of measures of which they should be the prime beneficiaries (see paragraph 493 of the General Survey of 2004 on promoting employment). The Committee would appreciate continuing to receive information on the involvement of the social partners on the matters covered by the Convention.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2007].

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

The Committee takes note of the Government’s report received in June 2004.

1. Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. The Committee recalls that the efforts by Uganda to formulate a comprehensive employment policy dates back to 1996, when the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare prepared, with ILO assistance, a comprehensive national employment policy. In its latest report, the Government indicates that the draft National Employment Policy was to be submitted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to Cabinet in July 2004 for consideration and adoption. While the Government explains that the draft National Employment Policy represents the first comprehensive action to address the problems of unemployment, underemployment, labour productivity and poverty in the country, it acknowledges that employment remains one of its greatest challenges since more than half of the population lives below the poverty line. Unemployment and underemployment are rampant among women, youth and graduates from institutions of higher learning, tertiary and other institutions. The Government has thus included employment objectives in the development plans and programmes, such as the Poverty Eradication Action Plan aimed at accelerating economic growth and the eradication of poverty.

2. The Government further indicates that within the employment policy framework, it aims to protect vulnerable groups such as women, youth and persons with disabilities and to assist them with special compensatory programmes, including those envisaged under the Poverty Eradication Action Plan. The Government also states that vocational training is being offered under the Directorate of Industrial Training and that it will ensure that these programmes are demand-driven through greater involvement of the private sector. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information in its next report on the measures taken to ensure that employment, as a key element of poverty reduction, is central to macroeconomic and social policies. The Committee emphasizes the importance of establishing a system for compilation of labour market data and requests the Government to report on any progress made in this field and to provide in its next report disaggregated data on trends in the labour market, including information on the situation, level and trends of employment, underemployment and unemployment throughout the country and the extent to which they affect the most vulnerable categories of workers (such as women, young persons and rural workers). The Committee also asks the Government to inform it of the status of the draft National Employment Policy and the Poverty Eradication Action Plan, as well as any evaluation on the impact of its programme to combat unemployment focusing on university graduates (Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention).

3. Participation of the social partners. The Government indicates that during the development of the draft National Employment Policy, the views of all affected persons were taken into account through the various workshops held. The Committee takes due note of this information and recalls that Article 3 of the Convention requires consultations with representatives of all persons affected, and particularly representatives of employers and workers, in the formulation and implementation of employment policies. It is the joint responsibility of the Government and the representative organizations of employers and workers to ensure that representatives of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups of the active population are associated as closely as possible with the formulation and implementation of measures of which they should be the prime beneficiaries (see paragraph 493 of the General Survey of 2004 on promoting employment). The Committee would appreciate continuing to receive information on the involvement of the social partners on the matters covered by the Convention.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2003, published 92nd ILC session (2004)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received. It must therefore repeat its 2001 observation, which read as follows.

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report, which was received in November 2000.

1. Article 1 of the Convention. The Committee notes with interest that the draft Employment Policy has been submitted to the Presidential Economics Council. The Government states that the centrepiece of every policy is the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP), and that some programmes already have been implemented. Two of the central programmes include providing microcredit. The youth entrepreneurs scheme targets young university graduates. To date it has trained 1,200 participants in entrepreneurship and provided loans to 795. The Entandikwa credit scheme targets the poor, and has so far supported 180 rural microcredit institutions and increased access to credit of marginalized people, in particular, women, youth and persons with disabilities. The Committee notes these schemes with interest. It would appreciate receiving further information on the impact of microcredit on employment promotion, and requests further details on other employment promotion programmes implemented.

2. The Committee also notes with interest that the Government has established, with ILO assistance, a special unit within the Ministry of Finance and Planning, to oversee implementation of labour-intensive and labour-based programmes. A large programme on implementation has been completed and the ILO is assisting in the impact evaluation. The Government also has drawn up a plan for modernization of agriculture, which is expected to generate employment, including the agro-processing industries. It has undertaken a project on poverty reduction through skills and enterprise development, with funding from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and assistance from the Office. The UNDP is funding US$12 million. Furthermore, Uganda is part of the Jobs for Africa Poverty Reduction Strategy in Africa of the ILO, and has completed a study on investment for poverty reduction employment and prepared a draft country action programme which outlines a number of projects and programmes.

3. Article 2. The Committee notes that the economy has been growing by an average of more than 6 per cent per year, and the Government has been effective in applying debt relief to reducing poverty, from 55 per cent of the population in 1992 to 35 per cent in 2000. It would appreciate further information on how the objective of employment promotion is taken into account in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper prepared by the Government as a condition for debt relief within the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative of the World Bank and the IMF. The Committee also notes that implementation issues concerning the employment policy are now under consideration. It requests further information on how the employment policy and implementing programmes will be kept under review. Please also provide information on the measures taken to collect and analyse statistical data concerning trends in the size and distribution of the labour force, and the nature and extent of unemployment and underemployment, to facilitate its evaluations.

4. Article 3. The Committee notes with interest that the draft employment policy was developed with extensive input from representatives of employers and workers and of other interested groups such as rural and informal sector workers. It would appreciate continuing to receive information on the nature of consultations on employment promotion, including consultations on evaluations and revisions, and on how these views are taken into account, as required by the Convention.

The preparation of a detailed report, including the indications requested in this observation, will certainly provide the Government and social partners with an opportunity to evaluate the achievement of the objectives of full productive and productive employment of the Convention. The Committee recalls that the assistance of the Office is available to comply with the reporting obligations and for the technical implementation of an active employment policy in the sense of the Convention.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2002, published 91st ILC session (2003)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It is therefore bound to repeat its 2001 observation, which read as follows:

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report, which was received in November 2000.

1. Article 1 of the Convention. The Committee notes with interest that the draft Employment Policy has been submitted to the Presidential Economics Council. The Government states that the centrepiece of every policy is the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP), and that some programmes already have been implemented. Two of the central programmes include providing microcredit. The youth entrepreneurs scheme targets young university graduates. To date it has trained 1,200 participants in entrepreneurship and provided loans to 795. The Entandikwa credit scheme targets the poor, and has so far supported 180 rural microcredit institutions and increased access to credit of marginalized people, in particular, women, youth and persons with disabilities. The Committee notes these schemes with interest. It would appreciate receiving further information on the impact of microcredit on employment promotion, and requests further details on other employment promotion programmes implemented.

2. The Committee also notes with interest that the Government has established, with ILO assistance, a special unit within the Ministry of Finance and Planning, to oversee implementation of labour-intensive and labour-based programmes. A large programme on implementation has been completed and the ILO is assisting in the impact evaluation. The Government also has drawn up a plan for modernization of agriculture, which is expected to generate employment, including the agro-processing industries. It has undertaken a project on poverty reduction through skills and enterprise development, with funding from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and assistance from the Office. The UNDP is funding US$12 million. Furthermore, Uganda is part of the Jobs for Africa Poverty Reduction Strategy in Africa of the ILO, and has completed a study on investment for poverty reduction employment and prepared a draft country action programme which outlines a number of projects and programmes.

3. Article 2. The Committee notes that the economy has been growing by an average of more than 6 per cent per year, and the Government has been effective in applying debt relief to reducing poverty, from 55 per cent of the population in 1992 to 35 per cent in 2000. It would appreciate further information on how the objective of employment promotion is taken into account in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper prepared by the Government as a condition for debt relief within the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative of the World Bank and the IMF. The Committee also notes that implementation issues concerning the employment policy are now under consideration. It requests further information on how the employment policy and implementing programmes will be kept under review. Please also provide information on the measures taken to collect and analyse statistical data concerning trends in the size and distribution of the labour force, and the nature and extent of unemployment and underemployment, to facilitate its evaluations.

4. Article 3. The Committee notes with interest that the draft employment policy was developed with extensive input from representatives of employers and workers and of other interested groups such as rural and informal sector workers. It would appreciate continuing to receive information on the nature of consultations on employment promotion, including consultations on evaluations and revisions, and on how these views are taken into account, as required by the Convention.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report, which was received in November 2000.

1. Article 1 of the Convention. The Committee notes with interest that the draft Employment Policy has been submitted to the Presidential Economics Council. The Government states that the centrepiece of every policy is the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP), and that some programmes already have been implemented. Two of the central programmes include providing microcredit. The youth entrepreneurs scheme targets young university graduates. To date it has trained 1,200 participants in entrepreneurship and provided loans to 795. The Entandikwa credit scheme targets the poor, and has so far supported 180 rural microcredit institutions and increased access to credit of marginalized people, in particular, women, youth and persons with disabilities. The Committee notes these schemes with interest. It would appreciate receiving further information on the impact of microcredit on employment promotion, and requests further details on other employment promotion programmes implemented.

2. The Committee also notes with interest that the Government has established, with ILO assistance, a special unit within the Ministry of Finance and Planning, to oversee implementation of labour-intensive and labour-based programmes. A large programme on implementation has been completed and the ILO is assisting in the impact evaluation. The Government also has drawn up a plan for modernization of agriculture, which is expected to generate employment, including the agro-processing industries. It has undertaken a project on poverty reduction through skills and enterprise development, with funding from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and assistance from the Office. The UNDP is funding US$12 million. Furthermore, Uganda is part of the Jobs for Africa Poverty Reduction Strategy in Africa of the ILO, and has completed a study on investment for poverty reduction employment and prepared a draft country action programme which outlines a number of projects and programmes.

3. Article 2. The Committee notes that the economy has been growing by an average of more than 6 per cent per year, and the Government has been effective in applying debt relief to reducing poverty, from 55 per cent of the population in 1992 to 35 per cent in 2000. It would appreciate further information on how the objective of employment promotion is taken into account in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper prepared by the Government as a condition for debt relief within the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative of the World Bank and the IMF. The Committee also notes that implementation issues concerning the employment policy are now under consideration. It requests further information on how the employment policy and implementing programmes will be kept under review. Please also provide information on the measures taken to collect and analyse statistical data concerning trends in the size and distribution of the labour force, and the nature and extent of unemployment and underemployment, to facilitate its evaluations.

4. Article 3. The Committee notes with interest that the draft employment policy was developed with extensive input from representatives of employers and workers and of other interested groups such as rural and informal sector workers. It would appreciate continuing to receive information on the nature of consultations on employment promotion, including consultations on evaluations and revisions, and on how these views are taken into account, as required by the Convention.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government's report for the period ending May 1998. It notes in particular that the draft employment policy has been completed and is under consideration by the Cabinet. The objectives of the employment policy are to promote full employment in the Poverty Eradication Action Plan and to improve the productivity of the labour force in order to increase wages. The Committee asks the Government to indicate in its next report whether the draft has been adopted and what programmes have been implemented to give it effect. It would also appreciate receiving further details on the Poverty Eradication Action Plan and information on how the employment policy is taken into account in the formulation of overall and sectoral development policies, in particular how the employment situation will be taken into account in the use of financial resources freed up due to the IMF and World Bank initiative for HIPC (heavily indebted poor countries) debt relief, as requested in the report form under Article 1.

The Government states that unemployment is highest among women, youth and those with advanced education or training, due to mismatch. It intends to institute as part of the draft employment policy special programmes for women, and gender sensitization training. It also has prepared programmes for youth, the disabled, and the unemployed. It intends to tackle mismatch by improving its career counselling, ensuring that training is demand driven, that the university curricula are up to date, and that records are kept of the placement rates of trainees and graduates. The Government also intends to provide less formal training in rural areas to better accommodate the needs of these workers. The Committee notes these programmes with interest and would appreciate receiving further information on their impact.

The Committee notes the Government's description of the tripartite consultation which took place during the formulation of the draft employment policy. It requests further information on how representatives of employers and workers, as well as representatives of other sectors of the economically active population, such as those working in the rural sector and the informal sector, are consulted concerning the review, within a framework of coordinated economic and social policy, of the employment policies and programmes adopted, as required under Article 3, in conjunction with Article 2.

The Committee notes that statistics are collected by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, in collaboration with the Department of Labour; however, no statistics were included in the report. The Government states that labour market information is one of the key areas that needs urgent attention. The Committee understands that the Government is working with the ILO EAMAT team in Addis Ababa on establishing a data system. The Committee welcomes these efforts and would appreciate receiving further information on the progress achieved, as requested in Part V of the report form.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

Referring to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government's short report for the period ending June 1996. It notes that the Government essentially refers to ILO technical cooperation activities, in particular through the multidisciplinary team in Addis Ababa, with a view to formulating a global employment policy in consultation with the representatives of all the sectors concerned. The Committee welcomes this regular cooperation with the ILO. In this respect it has been informed by the multidisciplinary team of the progress made, in particular through tripartite national workshops. It would be grateful if the Government would indicate in its next report the date on which implementation of this employment policy is expected to begin. The Committee also requests the Government to state its intentions in regard to developing employment service networks. Finally, please supply information on the work of the Labour Consultative Council in connection with employment policy.

The Committee suggests to the Government that it should take advantage of its close cooperation with the ILO multidisciplinary team to prepare a full report giving detailed replies to the questions on the report form.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1997, published 86th ILC session (1998)

Referring to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government's short report for the period ending June 1996. It notes that the Government essentially refers to ILO technical cooperation activities, in particular through the multidisciplinary team in Addis Ababa, with a view to formulating a global employment policy in consultation with the representatives of all the sectors concerned. The Committee welcomes this regular cooperation with the ILO. In this respect it has been informed by the multidisciplinary team of the progress made, in particular through tripartite national workshops. It would be grateful if the Government would indicate in its next report the date on which implementation of this employment policy is expected to begin. The Committee also requests the Government to state its intentions in regard to developing employment service networks. Finally, please supply information on the work of the Labour Consultative Council in connection with employment policy.

The Committee suggests to the Government that it should take advantage of its close cooperation with the ILO multidisciplinary team to prepare a full report giving detailed replies to the questions on the report form.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 83rd ILC session (1996)

1. The Committee notes the Government's report for the period ending June 1994. The Government indicates that due to lack of full information on the employment situation, it has been able, until recent years, to implement only fragmentary measures of the employment policy. It affirms, however, that it is now convinced of the urgency of formulating a global and dynamic employment policy as an integral part of the reforms undertaken at economic level. It mentions the initiatives taken in this regard, particularly the ILO multidisciplinary consultative mission on employment, which took place in October-November 1994 and of which it is awaiting the report.

2. In addition, the Committee received comments and information on recent developments from the ILO multidisciplinary team in Addis Ababa. The above-mentioned mission was followed by a national tripartite seminar in September 1995 which reaffirmed the need to formulate an employment policy on the basis of the elements set out in the ILO mission report. The Committee notes, in addition, that the Government has made an application for technical cooperation for a mission charged with formulating an employment policy programme in early 1996.

3. The Committee notes with interest the information which demonstrates the complementarity between standards and technical cooperation in the framework of the new structures established by the ILO. It is bound to encourage the Government to pursue its efforts, with ILO technical support, to formulate and apply "as a major goal, an active policy designed to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment", in accordance with Article 1 of the Convention. It hopes that the next report will show progress in this direction and will contain information as detailed as possible on the effect given to all the provisions of the Convention (reference may be made to the questions raised in the direct request of 1994). Bearing in mind the aforementioned observations of the ILO multidisciplinary team which stress the acute nature of employment problems and poverty in the context of a strategy of liberalization of the economy and privatization and the vigorous application of a stabilization and structural adjustment programme, the Committee draws attention, furthermore, to the requirement under Article 2, to decide on and keep under review employment policy measures "within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy" and under Article 3, concerning the consultation and cooperation of the persons affected (representatives of employers and workers, representatives of other sectors of the active population, such as persons working in the rural and informal sectors).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1994, published 81st ILC session (1994)

The Committee notes the Government's report for the period ending June 1992 and the relevant information which it contains in reply to its previous request. It would be grateful if the Government would supply further details in its next report on the following points:

1. The Government states that a structure to collect and analyse labour market statistics has been established, but that it does not have the necessary resources to function efficiently in the context of the budgetary restrictions applied under the structural adjustment programme. Please indicate the extent to which it has been possible to overcome these difficulties, taking into account the recommendations and advice of the ILO advisory mission on this point.

2. The Committee notes the Government's statement that it has recently undertaken to formulate an integrated and dynamic employment policy to address the problems of modern manufacturing, agriculture, the informal sector and vulnerable groups such as women and persons with disabilities. The Government refers in this regard, as it did in its previous report, to the programme document entitled "The way forward III 1991-1995, human resources and employment strategy". Please supply a copy of this document. The Committee hopes that the Government will be able to indicate in its next report the employment objectives established in development plans and programmes which are being implemented or prepared, and that it will describe the mutual relationships between employment policy objectives and other economic and social objectives.

3. The Government states that, despite budgetary constraints, it is endeavouring to reactivate the employment service network. Please supply information on the number, location and activities of the employment services. In this context, the Government may wish to refer for guidance to the ILO instruments on employment services (Convention No. 88 and Recommendation No. 83).

4. The Committee notes with interest the 1989 report of the Education Policy Review Commission. It notes in particular the recommendations relating to strengthening the links and complementarity between school education and vocational training. Please indicate the measures which have been taken or are envisaged as a result of these recommendations. The Government may consider it useful to refer in this respect to the relevant provisions of the Human Resources Development Convention (No. 142) and Recommendation (No. 150), 1975.

5. The Committee notes the dominant role of the informal sector in terms of employment and income, as well as the general features of the Government's policy for the development of the sector. Please indicate the measures which have been taken to achieve the established objectives of increasing employment opportunities in the sector while at the same time encouraging its progressive integration into the national economy. In this respect, see also below.

6. The Government states that representatives of employers and workers participate in the work of the Labour Advisory Board. The Committee notes that workers in the agricultural sector are also represented on the Board, but not workers from the informal sector. The Government states in this respect that it intends to encourage the establishment of associations which can represent persons who work in the informal sector on bodies such as the Labour Advisory Board. The Committee requests the Government to continue supplying information on the manner in which the representatives of all the persons affected are consulted concerning employment policies, in accordance with Article 3 of the Convention.

7. The Committee notes with interest the information supplied on the technical cooperation projects implemented in the context of the public works programme, the evaluation made of the results achieved through these projects and the difficulties which persist. It notes in particular that, in the Government's opinion, for them to be fully effective, the projects should be supported by employment and trade policies which encourage the use of labour-intensive methods and discourage the importation of capital goods. Please continue supplying information on ILO technical cooperation projects in the field of employment policy and the measures taken as a result of these projects.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

The Committee has taken note with interest of the information supplied by the Government in response to its previous comments. It would be grateful if the Government would include in its next report additional information on the following points:

1. The Committee notes the results of the National Manpower Survey of 1987-88 which provided information only for establishments of more than five employees. It observes in particular that the informal sector employed two-and-a-half times as many workers as the formal sector, in which two-thirds were employed in the Civil Service. According to the Government, these figures reveal the acuteness and urgency of the problem of unemployment among young people, particularly school-leavers, and women. The Committee notes with interest that, following the recommendations of the ILO Multidisciplinary Advisory Mission of 1988, a structure has been created within the Labour Department to establish a labour market information system. The structure in question is not yet in possession of the necessary resources for an efficient collection of information on the whole of the formal and informal sectors, but it should gradually become able to cover activities in the rural areas. The Committee notes that, according to the Government, a knowledge of trends in supply and demand on the labour market is a prerequisite for the formulation of an employment policy consistent with the priority economic and social objectives; it asks the Government to continue supplying information on the measures taken to collect and analyse the relevant statistical data and the results achieved in that respect.

2. The Committee notes that a programme document entitled "The Way Forward III 1991-1995, Human Resources and Employment Strategy" is being prepared; it invites the Government to supply a copy of this document as soon as it is available or to describe the objectives set and the measures planned for attaining them. In this connection please refer to the questions raised in the report form under Article 1 of the Convention, according to whatever is relevant to national conditions.

3. The Government states that, following the ILO Advisory Mission, it undertook to reactivate the Employment Service network. Please supply information on the progress made in that respect. The Government states further that the commission set up to review the education system has recommended in its report the vocationalisation of the whole education system. Please supply a copy of that report.

4. The Committee notes that according to the Government the informal sector has a great potential for absorbing the increasing number of unemployed young people. It points out in this connection that the provisions of Part V of Recommendation No. 169 contain some useful indications concerning the principles that should guide employment policy in relation to the informal sector.

5. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes with interest that the Labour Advisory Board was reconstituted in 1990 and that the Government is considering setting up a tripartite national coordinating committee. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply indications as to the way representatives of the persons affected by the measures to be taken are consulted concerning employment policies in accordance with Article 3 of the Convention. The Committee points out in that connection that the representatives of the persons concerned may include, in addition to representatives of employers' and workers' organisations, representatives of other sectors of the economically active population such as persons employed in the rural and the informal sector.

6. The Committee has been informed of the execution of several ILO technical cooperation projects concerning in particular support for the programme of labour-intensive activities. With reference to its previous comments, it trusts that the Government will indicate, as requested in Part V of the report form, the action taken or contemplated as a result of the assistance and advice received under ILO technical cooperation projects and any factors which may have prevented or delayed such action.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1991, published 78th ILC session (1991)

The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It refers to its previous comments and it hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

1. The Committee notes the Government's very brief report for the period ending June 1988. The Government mainly refers to an ILO multidisciplinary advisory mission which visited Uganda in October-November 1988 to review methods of strengthening the Ministry of Labour's structure and functions. The Committee is concerned about the serious problems in the fields of employment policy, labour administration and wages and incomes policy described in the report of the ILO mission ("Wages, incomes policies and employment in Uganda: Agenda for institutional reform", which was published by JASPA in 1989). The mission made various recommendations in its report, including project ideas of technical assistance. It pointed out in particular the urgent need to establish a labour market information system in order to build up in a systematic way necessary database for policy-makers and planners to translate employment planning into the promotion of job opportunities. It also suggests that particular attention should be paid to the collection and analysis of information as a basis to deal with the occupational needs of specific categories of workers such as rural workers, workers in the informal sector, women, young persons and the disabled.

2. Furthermore, the Committee was informed that the ILO has also been active in supplying technical co-operation through four labour-intensive support projects; and three new projects related with employment and population planning have been implemented since 1989.

3. The Committee hopes that the Government will benefit from the technical assistance, especially the assistance of JASPA, in order to enable it to promote the goal of the Convention to pursue an active employment policy (Article 1 of the Convention). It hopes in particular that, taking into account the labour market situation, the projects designed to strengthen the labour administration and the labour market information system could be made operational shortly in order to further assist the Government in deciding and keeping under review, within the framework of a co-ordinated economic and social policy, the measures to be adopted to attain the objectives specified in Article 1 (Article 2). It trusts that in its future reports the Government will supply all available information on the action taken as a result of the technical assistance provided by the ILO, and indicate any factors which may have prevented or delayed such action (point V of the report form).

4. The Committee hopes that the next report or reports will contain all available information on the measures adopted or envisaged to implement the Convention, including a description of the policies pursued and the measures taken in the framework of the ongoing Economic Recovery Programme, with particular reference to overall and sectoral development policies, labour market policies and educational and training policies. It would be grateful if the Government would indicate the manner in which the effects on employment of measures taken to promote economic development or other economic and social objectives receive due consideration.

5. Article 3. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes with interest the Government's statement that the Labour Advisory Board is expected to be reconstituted soon, and that it is hoped that the current labour legislation being drafted will place the Board on a statutory basis. In this connection, the Committee would like to emphasise the relevance of the recommendation made by the mission report mentioned above and according to which the tasks of policy-makers, planners and those involved in labour market information activities could be strengthened by the formation of a national tripartite co-ordinating committee with representatives from relevant government ministries and agencies and employers' and workers' organisations. The Committee trusts that in its next reports the Government will provide further indications on the manner in which representatives of the persons affected by the measures to be taken, and in particular representatives of employers and workers, are consulted. Please also indicate whether formal consultative procedures in the matters covered by the Convention have been established.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1990, published 77th ILC session (1990)

1. The Committee notes the Government's very brief report for the period ending June 1988. The Government mainly refers to an ILO multidisciplinary advisory mission which visited Uganda in October-November 1988 to review methods of strengthening the Ministry of Labour's structure and functions. The Committee is concerned about the serious problems in the fields of employment policy, labour administration and wages and incomes policy described in the report of the ILO mission ("Wages, incomes policies and employment in Uganda: Agenda for institutional reform", which was published by JASPA in 1989). The mission made various recommendations in its report, including project ideas of technical assistance. It pointed out in particular the urgent need to establish a labour market information system in order to build up in a systematic way necessary database for policy-makers and planners to translate employment planning into the promotion of job opportunities. It also suggests that particular attention should be paid to the collection and analysis of information as a basis to deal with the occupational needs of specific categories of workers such as rural workers, workers in the informal sector, women, young persons and the disabled.

2. Furthermore, the Committee was informed that the ILO has also been active in supplying technical co-operation through four labour-intensive support projects; and three new projects related with employment and population planning have been implemented since 1989.

3. The Committee hopes that the Government will benefit from the technical assistance, especially the assistance of JASPA, in order to enable it to promote the goal of the Convention to pursue an active employment policy (Article 1 of the Convention). It hopes in particular that, taking into account the labour market situation, the projects designed to strengthen the labour administration and the labour market information system could be made operational shortly in order to further assist the Government in deciding and keeping under review, within the framework of a co-ordinated economic and social policy, the measures to be adopted to attain the objectives specified in Article 1 (Article 2). It trusts that in its future reports the Government will supply all available information on the action taken as a result of the technical assistance provided by the ILO, and indicate any factors which may have prevented or delayed such action (point V of the report form).

4. The Committee hopes that the next report or reports will contain all available information on the measures adopted or envisaged to implement the Convention, including a description of the policies pursued and the measures taken in the framework of the ongoing Economic Recovery Programme, with particular reference to overall and sectoral development policies, labour market policies and educational and training policies. It would be grateful if the Government would indicate the manner in which the effects on employment of measures taken to promote economic development or other economic and social objectives receive due consideration.

5. Article 3. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes with interest the Government's statement that the Labour Advisory Board is expected to be reconstituted soon, and that it is hoped that the current labour legislation being drafted will place the Board on a statutory basis. In this connection, the Committee would like to emphasise the relevance of the recommendation made by the mission report mentioned above and according to which the tasks of policy-makers, planners and those involved in labour market information activities could be strengthened by the formation of a national tripartite co-ordinating committee with representatives from relevant government ministries and agencies and employers' and workers' organisations. The Committee trusts that in its next reports the Government will provide further indications on the manner in which representatives of the persons affected by the measures to be taken, and in particular representatives of employers and workers, are consulted. Please also indicate whether formal consultative procedures in the matters covered by the Convention have been established.