More local companies have been urged to join the United Nations Global Compact Network in Uganda to advance labour relations at places of work.
Labour rights are among the four principles espoused by the network, which has about 30 companies subscribing to it.
The other principles of the network are human rights, environment and anti-corruption.
“This network aims to promote good employment relations at places of work. It addresses issues of harmonising employer-employee relations as we go about our work, said Shaffi Manafa, of the Federation of Uganda Employers.
“Companies should not abuse employees’ rights. Treat them with dignity and give them commensurate pay for their work,” he said at the sidelines of the network’s meeting held in Kampala recently in which a new steering committee was elected.
The labour standards of the network include the right to employees’ freedom of association, elimination of all forms of forced labour, effective abolition of child labour, and the elimination of discrimination in respect to employment and occupation.
“Companies that join the network get international recognition and it becomes easy to do business with the UN,” Manafa said.
By Billy Rwothungeyo, The New Vision
