No Worker Left Behind: Uganda’s New Safety Bill Aims to Protect All; Formal or Informal
Hon. Betty Amongi,- Uganda’s Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Development
Introduction: A New Chapter in Labour Protection
In a country where nearly 80% of workers are employed in the informal sector, the question of who is protected by labour laws is not abstract, it is existential. For decades, Uganda’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 2006 has failed to cover millions of workers, particularly those in small or unregistered enterprises. That may soon change.
In April 2025, Uganda’s Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Hon. Betty Amongi, presented a major legislative proposal: the Occupational Safety and Health (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which seeks to eliminate the current 20-employee threshold. If passed, this amendment would extend workplace safety protections to all workers, regardless of the size of the business or whether the job is formal or informal.
The bill also introduces new protections against workplace hazards such as noise, dust, vibration, and psychological stress, an overdue move toward aligning Uganda’s labour standards with worker realities on the ground.
A Bill that Centres the Marginalised
The core strength of the OSH (Amendment) Bill lies in its effort to close the legal gap that has long excluded the majority of Uganda’s workforce. Under the existing 2006 Act, only formal enterprises with at least 20 employees were required to implement health and safety measures. This left domestic workers, boda boda riders, market vendors, construction labourers, and factory hands in small workshops without legal protection.
Now, the proposed bill acknowledges that informality does not mean disposability. It redefines who is entitled to a safe working environment, and makes it clear that the right to life and dignity at work is universal, not contingent on the scale of the employer.
Perhaps most significantly, the bill grants the Ministry’s safety inspectors the power to prosecute employers who fail to meet safety standards, something that could finally give the law teeth.
“When a life is lost, someone’s livelihood is gone, but the damage goes beyond that.” said Minister Amongi during an OSH conference at Namanve Industrial Park.
“It harms the reputation of the company and may even lead to business closure. Compensation for injured workers also costs the company, which could have been avoided simply by providing proper safety measures.” She added
Union Perspectives: From Paper to Protection
Labour unions in Uganda have long argued that legal reform must match the scale of worker vulnerability. Among the loudest voices is the National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU), Uganda’s largest labour federation, representing more than 900,000 workers. A founding member of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), NOTU has campaigned for stronger protections for casual, contract, and informal workers; groups that face the highest rates of injury and harassment.
Sector-specific unions like the Uganda Textile, Garment, Leather and Allied Workers Union (UTGLAWU) have also been instrumental. With a base in export processing zones and garment factories, UTGLAWU has documented widespread neglect of safety protocols, especially for women workers. They continue to call for employer accountability and enforcement, not just policy rhetoric.
While not a union, the Federation of Uganda Employers (FUE) plays a pivotal role in Uganda’s tripartite labour system. In 2023, FUE signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NOTU and four affiliates of IndustriALL Global Union, aimed at improving workplace safety and strengthening social dialogue. Though this is a step forward, unions remain cautious, noting that genuine change depends on political will and enforcement.
Implementation Gaps and Regional Comparisons
Assistant Commissioner Peter Apollo Onzoma of the Labour Ministry admitted during the same April conference that logistical constraints, including insufficient personnel and resources, have limited the government’s ability to inspect and regulate workplaces.
However, the amendment signals an intent to expand the inspectorate, increase training, and prioritise marginalised workers in enforcement campaigns.
Uganda is not alone in rethinking occupational safety in the informal sector. Kenya’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme is formalising informal skills in construction and mechanics, with the goal of linking them to social protections. In South Africa, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) has demanded strict enforcement of safety standards in high-risk industries like mining and steelwork, where injuries remain frequent.
Uganda’s proposed law aligns with this broader African trend: centring worker protection as a core feature of development, not a footnote.
Conclusion: From Bill to Real Change
Uganda’s OSH (Amendment) Bill represents a progressive, pro-worker shift in national policy. It reframes safety not as a privilege for the formally employed, but as a right for all workers, especially those most often ignored by the state and exploited by employers.
But as union leaders have noted, legislation alone is not enough. Without active implementation, budget allocation, and worker education, the bill risks becoming another promise on paper.
What Uganda’s workers need is not just protection from dust and noise; they need protection from neglect, silence, and institutional indifference. The passage of this bill would be a milestone. Making it matter will be the real test.
References
Parliament of Uganda – Minister tables Occupational Safety and Health (Amendment) Bill, 2023
PML Daily – Labour Minister warns employers on workplace safety
IndustriALL Global Union – Ugandan unions sign MoU on social dialogue - Link