Uganda Industrial Court to strengthen its operations following a high level delegation study tour to Tanzania
The ILO and the Labour Court division of the high court of Tanzania jointly organized and hosted a high level of five (5) officials from the Industrial Court of Uganda from 5 to 7 October 2015. The purpose of the visit was to acquaint themselves with the operations of a fully functioning Labour Court system, ahead of operationalizing their own in Uganda following their appointments in June 2014.
15 October 2015
The study tour, was part of the ILO’s support to enhancing the capacity of service delivery of Uganda’s labour administration system, following a labour administration needs assessment that was conducted in 2012. To date, ILO’s support on this area had focused on labour inspection, governance structures and policy development. The Industrial Court had not yet been constituted between 2012-2014, and following the appointment of the incumbent officials the tour became top priority of the government.
The delegation met the Chief Justice of Tanzania, officials of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE), the Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA) and the Commission for Mediation and Arbitration (CMA). They learned of the history of the Labour Court of Tanzania, from its beginnings as a Labour Tribunal to an Industrial Court and finally an independent division of the High Court from whose decisions lie to the Court of Appeal. In addition to the briefings provided, the delegation sat in one of the sessions of the Labour Court to learn, in practical terms, how the court delivers its services from the moment it registers applications, adjudicating over the matter to delivering its ruling. The delegation’s exchanges with the social partners provided them with insight on the partners’ role in administering labour rights at the workplace, whereas the Ministry of Labour and Employment officials elaborated the regulatory framework established, with support from the ILO. The framework enables the court to play its role in ensuring that not only rights at work are upheld but also that international labour standards are applied through national laws, rules and regulations.
The delegation met the Chief Justice of Tanzania, officials of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE), the Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA) and the Commission for Mediation and Arbitration (CMA). They learned of the history of the Labour Court of Tanzania, from its beginnings as a Labour Tribunal to an Industrial Court and finally an independent division of the High Court from whose decisions lie to the Court of Appeal. In addition to the briefings provided, the delegation sat in one of the sessions of the Labour Court to learn, in practical terms, how the court delivers its services from the moment it registers applications, adjudicating over the matter to delivering its ruling. The delegation’s exchanges with the social partners provided them with insight on the partners’ role in administering labour rights at the workplace, whereas the Ministry of Labour and Employment officials elaborated the regulatory framework established, with support from the ILO. The framework enables the court to play its role in ensuring that not only rights at work are upheld but also that international labour standards are applied through national laws, rules and regulations.