Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Protection of Wages Convention, 1949 (No. 95) - Uganda (Ratification: 1963)

The Committee notes with deep concern that the Government’s report has not been received. It expects that the next report will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous comments. The Committee informs the Government that, if it has not supplied replies to the points raised by 1 September 2020, then it may proceed with the examination of the application of the Convention on the basis of the information at its disposal at its next session.

Repetition

Article 1 of the Convention. Coverage of all parts of the remuneration. The Committee notes that the definition of “wages” in section 2 of the Employment Act excludes “contributions made or to be made by the employer in respect of his or her employee’s insurance, medical care, welfare, education, training, invalidity, retirement pension, post-service gratuity or severance allowance”. The Committee recalls that the definition of wages for the purposes of the Convention is very broad and that it intends to cover the benefits excluded under section 2 of the Employment Act. Since this Act is the main legislation implementing the Convention, the Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures taken to provide workers with the protection afforded in the Convention in relation to the elements of their remuneration which are excluded under section 2 of the Employment Act.

Article 4. Partial payment in kind. The Committee notes that sections 41(3) and 97(2)(i) of the Employment Act address the issue of partial payment of wages in kind and provide that the Minister may adopt regulations on this matter. It requests the Government to indicate whether such regulations have been adopted.

Article 7(2). Works stores. The Committee notes that section 41(4) of the Employment Act provides that an employee shall not be obliged to make use of any shops established by the employer for the use of his or her employees or services operated in connection with the undertaking. The Committee recalls that Article 7(2) requires that where access to other stores or services other than those operated by the employer is not possible, the competent authority shall take appropriate measures in order to ensure that goods and services are sold at a fair and reasonable price and in the interest of the workers. The Committee therefore requests the Government to indicate what measures are in place in order to ensure the application of this provision of the Convention.

Articles 8 and 10. Deductions from wages and attachment of wages. The Committee notes that section 46(1) of the Employment Act provides a list of authorized deductions from wages and that section 46(3) provides that attachment of wages shall be limited to no more than two-thirds of all remuneration due in respect of a specific pay period. The Committee therefore notes that, while there is an overall limit on attachment of wages, there is no such limit for deductions from wages. In this regard, the Committee recalls that, in addition to setting specific limits for each type of deduction, it is also important to establish an overall limit beyond which wages cannot be further reduced, in order to protect the income of workers in the case of multiple deductions. The Committee therefore requests the Government to take the necessary measures for the establishment of specific and overall limits to deductions from wages.

Article 12(1). Regular payment of wages. With reference to its previous request concerning the issue of irregular payment of wages, the Committee notes that the Government merely repeats in its report the information previously provided. In relation to the lack of a functional Industrial Court, which had been noted in its previous comments, the Committee notes that information is available on the Court’s website indicating that a number of awards have been adopted since 2015. It also notes that two judges and the registrar of the Court have participated in a training activity on international labour standards delivered by the International Training Centre of the ILO in Turin in June 2017. In this context, the Committee once again requests the Government to provide up to date information on the situation of wage arrears in the country, including data on the number of workers affected by non-payment or delayed payment of wages, the sectors concerned and the results of labour inspections on these issues, and to indicate whether the Industrial Court has been dealing with any such cases.

Article 14(a). Information on wages before entering employment. The Committee notes that section 59 of the Employment Act provides that an employee shall receive from the employer information on wages not later than 12 weeks after the date on which employment commences. The Committee recalls that Article 14(a) requires effective measures to be taken in order to ensure that employees are informed of the conditions in respect of wages before they enter employment. The Committee therefore requests the Government to indicate which measures are in place in order to ensure full implementation of this Article of the Convention.