By Mulengera Reporters
Lawmakers have passed the Occupational Safety and Health (Amendment) Bill, 2023, introducing comprehensive reforms to safeguard workers from increasing risks and hazards in evolving workplace environments.
During the plenary session on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, chaired by Speaker Anita Among, MPs emphasized the urgency of implementing updated occupational safety and health (OSH) regulations. Minister of State for Gender, Labour, and Social Development (Employment and Industrial Relations), Esther Anyakun, presented the Bill for its second reading, highlighting its role in addressing critical gaps in the 2006 OSH Act.
Bill’s Key Reforms
The Bill, first read on January 9, 2024, seeks to modernize safety laws to match rapid industrialization and new workplace dynamics. Notable amendments include:
- Expanding the scope of the law to cover all workplaces, including informal and remote work settings.
- Mandating employers to hire qualified safety officers and establish safety committees.
- Defining technical terms such as “lifting gear” and “lifting appliance.”
- Introducing health and safety audits to identify workplace risks and ensure the availability of tailored first aid kits.
- Requiring pre-assignment and post-termination medical examinations for employees exposed to hazardous environments.
- Aligning safety standards with internationally recognized norms, particularly for electrical and machine safety.
The amendments also task employers with providing occupational health services such as counseling, stress management, and body fitness activities to address mental health and wellness.
Enforcement
The Committee on Gender, Labour, and Social Development, chaired by Agnes Kunihira, supported the Bill but raised concerns about enforcement gaps.
- The Occupational Safety and Health Board, established under the 2006 Act, has been non-operational for 18 years due to funding challenges.
- There are only 21 government safety inspectors overseeing over 8,000 workplaces, creating a ratio of one inspector per 380 workplaces.
To address these issues, the Committee recommended recruiting more inspectors, regulating private OSH practitioners, and developing industry-specific regulations tailored to emerging hazards.
Debate Highlights
Nalule Asha Aisha Kabanda (Butambala District) questioned whether the Bill sufficiently protects workers in informal and remote workplaces. Lillian Obiale Paparu (Arua District) sought clarity on the accreditation of private safety inspectors, citing cases of unverified practitioners.
Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi pressed for a definitive timeline for implementing the amendments. In response, Minister Anyakun assured MPs that the Ministry would finalize regulations within a year of the Bill’s passage.
Training Gaps
Lawmakers pointed out the alarming number of workplace accidents caused by untrained machine operators. In 2024 alone, 997 of 1,000 reported incidents were linked to untrained operators. Balaam Barugahara, Minister of State for Gender, Labour, and Social Development (Youth and Children Affairs), revealed that the Bill mandates the training and certification of machine operators to minimize risks.
Deputy Attorney General Jackson Kafuuzi noted that the amended law imposes a two-year penalty on employers using untrained operators. “Employers must prioritize hiring qualified personnel. The amendments expand the scope to include machinery such as cranes, which were excluded in the original Act,” he stated.
Way Forward
MPs urged the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development to urgently formulate and regularly update industry-specific regulations to address changing workplace dynamics. Aisha Kabanda proposed that regulations be tailored to each industry and updated to account for new machinery and associated hazards.
With the International Labour Organization (ILO) and World Health Organization (WHO) underscoring the importance of workplace health, the amended law is expected to promote safer, healthier environments for Uganda’s workforce while addressing legal inconsistencies and operational challenges-Parliament Watch. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
