IN A COUNTRY WITH THE MASS UNEMPLOYMENT LEVELS OF UGANDA, A MINIMUM WAGE MAY NOT MAKEECONOMICSENSE

It is unfortunate that the NRM Government messed up the economy so much to the extent of making workers earnings useless. This was done most prior to the 2011 general Elections when it is believed that money was poured into the economy to bribe the voters. That having taken place, it is wrong for the leaders of the workers to agitate for legislation for a minimum wage. What these leaders can attempt to do is ask Government for the lower wage to be fixed for Government workers, but not a minimum wage legislation. If Government fixed shs 200,000 as the minimum wage, what can happen is that people who are desperate for work will be able to tell employers that they are willing to accept a lower pay on the basis that very many people want work. So, in a country with the Uganda type of unemployment, the best strategies by Government are to see that as many people can be helped to get some income, and as the economy booms, it is capable of affording bigger pay. William Kituuka Kiwanuka. WORKERS PROMISE TO PITCH CAMP AT STATE HOUSE COME JUNE 4 By Ismal Musa Ladu Posted Sunday, May 27 2012 at 00:00 Kampala If threats raised by 20 workers unions led by the Workers MP are anything to go by, then the gates of State House and several government ministries will on June 4 be flooded with demonstrators. In a statement released on Friday, the groups raise a red flag, warning the President and various government ministries and departments that they will be pitching camp in their offices until workers’ long outstanding demands are met. In an interview with MP Sam Lyomoki, he said: “We are mobilising not less than 5,000 workers at any one time to storm State House and demand that issues of minimum wage are sorted out once and for all.” “This is a matter that has been around for at least 20 years,” he added. According to Dr Lyomoki, each ministry will be stormed to address particular demands that largely fall under its docket, save for the minimum wage where the fight will be taken to State House for the President’s attention and intervention. “We are prepared for the police. And we are not about to give up this course of action until all our demands are met,” said Dr Lyomoki. The Central Organisation of Free Trade Unions-Uganda, pointed out 20 pressing issues in the statement, among them the minimum wage issue, operationalisation of the industrial court, workers involvement in matters pertaining to the National Social Security Fund - pension sector and interests, and honouring of the presidential pledges to workers. iladu@ug.nationmedia.com