2018 was a special
year in many ways especially with strong support from you the employers. We also
received potential members who opted to join the employers’ fraternity without
us reaching directly to them. This implies that they came through referrals and
the visibility campaigns that we undertook.
In addition, we
witnessed a very high level of trust from employers that enabled us to deliver
a number of customized services including providing support for mergers and
acquisitions, strategy development and mediation services. We were able to
significantly improve membership engagement which resulted into more 40 dormant
members reactivating their membership.
Your support enabled
us to continue to develop the network of Ugandan Employers with 35 new members
joining the employers’ fraternity in 2018. Some of these include; Exim Bank Limited, Finish Refugee Council, Finance
Trust Bank, Infectious Diseases Institute, Medical Research Council, Letshego,
NARO, UNRA, Toyota Uganda Limited, Sight Savers International, and ADD
International among others. We were also able to bring on board, Tinkr, an
International Member from Norway.
We
continued to lobby, advocate and represent the Employers’ interest on several
issues as laid out in the FUE 2016-2018 Business Agenda. We also tackled
additional issues like financial literacy, energy, and security threats to
investors. We took care of your interest as follows;
- At the 107th
Session of the ILO Conference, FUE represented employers’ interests on several
global policy discussions through 4 committees, namely; labor migration,
employment and decent work, fundamental principles on right at work and
application of conventions and recommendations.
- Reviewed several
policy papers of the International Organization of Employers (IOE). The papers
were presented at various forums including meetings of the G7, G20 and European
Union.
- Submitted Employers’ views
to H.E President of the Republic of Uganda during the International Labor Day.
- FUE made an input on the Technical Vocational
Education Training (TVET) Council policy draft.
- The Minimum wage position was finalized & submitted
to the Ministry responsible for Labour.
- Presented employers’ views during Employment
Diagnostics Analysis. It focuses on key drivers for job creation.
- FUE is
working on MoU with UIA to support the promotion of investments in the
country and job creation.
- FUE
supported the process that led to the issuing of the Certificate of
financial implication for the National Health Insurance Scheme bill.
- We made
submissions for the National Budget 2018/2019.
- We made submissions to the Labour,
employment and productivity working committee of the Ministry of Gender,
Labour and Social Development.
- We made inputs to the Social
Protection working group of the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social
Development.
- Presented employers’ views on the
minimum wage to the Parliamentary committee on Gender, Labor and Social
Development.
- Renewed our MoU with
Makerere University, which will involve continuously looking out for schemes
and initiatives that add value to our members inclusive of shaping the skilling
of your future people resource.
- Engaged with the
Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, and the Ministry of
Education, Science, Technology and Sports to fast track the establishment of
the TVET council with strong employer representation.
- There are a number of
statutory boards, committees and bodies whose work has an impact on your
operations. FUE has also continued to represent your views on such bodies. Our
representatives continued engaging in these meetings of boards including;
- NSSF
- Uganda Industrial Court
- Uganda Revenue Authority
- Uganda Retirement Benefits Regulatory Authority
- Industrial Training Council
- Skilling Uganda reform taskforce
- Vocational Training Institute Nakawa
- Labour Advisory Board
- National Curriculum Development Centre
- Private Sector Foundation Uganda
- East African Employers Organisation
- Business Africa
- Global Fund Uganda Country Coordinating Mechanism Board
- Uganda Retirement Benefits Regulatory Authority
- National Health Insurance Scheme Taskforce
- Higher Education Students Financing Board
- National Disability Council
- Uganda Business Technical Examination Board
- And others
- Launched the Private
Sector HIV/AIDS One Dollar Initiative marathon, a mechanism to mobilize
resources domestically to improve financing for HIV/AIDS and related diseases
within our Private Sector.
- A Strategic Plan for
2019-2023 was developed and approved by the Governing Council sitting on the
December 13, 2018.
- A new Business
Agenda for 2019-2021 was developed and approved by the Governing Council
sitting on the December 13, 2018.
- Promoted work-based
learning programs like apprenticeships and volunteer programs.
- Developed
employers’ position on the review of the labour laws through extensive
consultation with employers
- As
employers we should be in solidarity. A number of companies received
support towards maintaining harmonious relations at their workplaces
through our wide range of advisory, negotiation, trainings and employment
legal counsel offered.
- Improved services to our
members reflected in the increased number of trainings and services
offered through in-house arrangements.
- We
also executed programs, initiatives, events, and networking activities
that add value to you our members including;
- (11th intake)
- The
8th Annual Women Leadership Conference under the theme “Building a
lasting legacy: What is yours?”
- Two
CEO Breakfast Meetings in July and November 2018
- We
also twice conducted a free members’ training on managing terminations,
dismissals & constituting disciplinary committees at the workplace.
- The MOU with
the Ministry of Public Service was signed
- Graduate
volunteers scheme implementation
- Signed
an MoU with FUZU-Uganda for promoting skills, career development and job
matching between employers and job seekers
Major FUE activities of 2019 include the following:
- Member
visits, engagement and support
- 3 free
general trainings for paid up members
- Regional
Sensitizations on Employment Relations
- The 8th
Annual Women Leadership Conference
- Employer
of the Year (EYA) awards launch
- Two CEO Breakfast
Meetings
- Chinese
Employers Meeting
- The Executive Training in Employment
Relations (ETER) Program
- The
Female Future Program