A section of domestic workers in Uganda have urged Parliament to provide for an age limit of 18years that one can be employed as a domestic worker in Uganda.
Hanifa Katwesigye, Chairperson Domestic Workers Association Uganda Ltd, urged lawmakers on Parliament’s Committee of Gender, Labour and Social Development to ensure that only domestic workers above the age of 18years are employed at homes in Uganda because some homes are hazardous places that may prove dangerous for children below the age of 18 years.
She remarked, “On amendment 11, amending section 32 of the principal Act we propose that the occupation of domestic, no child below the age of 18years should be employed as a domestic worker. This is because domestic work is one of the hazardous works and it prohibits the child to attend their education. Majority of the child domestic workers face worse challenges than the adult domestic workers.”
Katwesigye made the plea while appearing before Parliament to submit their proposals on the Employment Amendment Bill 2022 that was recently tabled by Agnes Kunihira (Workers MP).
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However, Charles Bakabulindi (Workers MP) wondered what would happen to people below the age of 16years and have been out of school and are seeking for employment to earn some income.
“I am looking at a baby sitter, do you want a baby sitter to be above the age of 18? And these ones who are 16years and they have no work and they are out of school but they can at least be occupied by that, how can we cater for them? because 18 and above, majority of them are going to the University, I agree with them, but we must look at the environment,” said Bakabulindi.
In her proposed legislation, Kunihira argued that the current Employment Act, 2006 has broad application, covering all employees employed by an employer under a contract of service however, it has a very narrow scope on the regulation of domestic work and recruitment and placement of domestic workers.
She cited Section 38(3) of the Act that stipulates that no permit is required for a person or company to recruit and place a domestic servant and non-manual laborers. Kunihira also cited section 3(2)(a) of the current Act that clearly states that the Act does not apply to employers and their dependent relatives when the defendant relatives are the only employees in a family undertaking work.
Kunihira further argued in her Bill that majority of the women and young persons working asdomestic workers are often related to their employers and this limitsthe applicability of the law on domestic workers.
“There is therefore the need to amend the Act to expressly recognise domestic workers under the Act and clearly provide for their regulation. This is especially important due to their vulnerability and susceptibility to exploitation and the fact that employers of domestic workers and casual employees have been reluctant to comply with the implied provisions of the Act,” noted Kunihira.
Boosting of a membership of 1000 domestic workers, the Association also want MPs to make it mandatory for their employers to pay their domestic workers a repatriation fee at end of their employment regardless of the distance of recruitment and ensure the employers introduce domestic workers to the area local councils at their place of employment.
