The Minister of Public Service and Labour, Anastase Murekezi, has called for the respect of employees’ rights. He said this during a recent workshop for employers and employees from the private sector to validate the Labour Code. He particularly talked of the importance of leave and other work benefits.

The workshop was characterized by calls for improved welfare for employees, and participants examined a number of articles to be changed or deleted from the code. 

The national Labour Inspector, Julie Kamukama, indicated that since the country had joined the East African Community (EAC), there was an urgent need for some of the articles in the Labour Code to be amended.

"We hope that by changing some of these articles it will improve working conditions, thus boosting productivity,’ Kamukama said.

According to critics, the Labour law regulates employment relationships in too much detail, preserves the existing restrictions, introduces new restrictions, and deprives employees and employers of freedom of agreement.

Representatives of trade unions drew the attention of the participants to the issue of forced labour and neo-slavery still existing at some places of work. They called for an end to all forms of exploitation.

The In-Charge of Capacity Building at the Private Sector Federation, Molly Rugambwa, said she hoped the suggested changes in Labour Code will help build a stronger private sector.

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