Kampala (ILO News) - The International Labour Organisation (ILO) Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Africa, Mr. Aeneas Chapinga Chuma, has concluded his first visit to Uganda since his appointment in March 2014.
Mr. Chuma, who arrived on Wednesday, held meetings with the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, the Secretary-General of the National Organization of Trade Unions (NOTU) as well as the Secretary-General of the Central Organization of Free Trade Unions (COFTU), and the Executive Director of the Federation of Uganda Employers.
The Regional Director visited a youth entrepreneur in Mukono District who has benefited from ILO’s entrepreneurship training and mentorship support to run a successful business - making dining table mats, ladies' handbags and toys for children.
With a start-up capital of Uganda shillings 100,000 (about USD 40) in 2011, Joseph Mwesigwa has grown has business to Uganda shillings 80 million (about USD 30,000) today, employing 40 workers, mainly young people.
The ILO is implementing a number of projects in Uganda aimed at increasing employment opportunities for women and men in the country. Interventions include promotion of youth employment and entrepreneurship, with specific emphasis on women and youth; preventing children from getting engaged in child labour through improving the schooling and community environment.
Other interventions include addressing HIV&AIDS in the workplace in both the formal and informal sectors. The ILO also supports government’s capacity to create a conducive legislative and policy environment that promotes decent work as well as social dialogue between workers, employers and government.
