Government Establishes Taskforce to Overhaul Workers’ Compensation System

The Ugandan government has taken a significant step toward improving social protection for employees by establishing a specialized taskforce to review the current workers’ compensation system. Commissioned by Simon Mulongo, the Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, the committee aims to tackle persistent challenges such as delayed claims, uneven enforcement, and employer insolvency.

Under the existing Workers Compensation Act, primary responsibility falls on employers to compensate staff for injuries sustained on the job. However, officials noted that this system often leaves vulnerable families exposed to financial uncertainty when businesses go bankrupt or drag out payments. Mulongo emphasized that the risks of productive employment should not be unfairly shifted onto injured workers and their loved ones.

The newly formed taskforce includes technical experts and representatives from various government bodies, including the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Public Service, the Attorney General’s Chambers, and the National Planning Authority, alongside workers’ representatives. Their mandate involves conducting diagnostic assessments, evaluating actuarial financing options, and drafting legislative proposals for reform.

Discussions will also explore the potential creation of a National Workers’ Compensation Fund, drawing comparative insights from regional models like those in Tanzania, South Africa, and Zambia. Nonetheless, officials cautioned against directly copying foreign frameworks, stressing the need for a uniquely tailored Ugandan system with sustainable financing.

Beyond financial security, the minister underscored that compensation must never replace proactive workplace safety measures. The taskforce is expected to factor in emerging occupational hazards—such as heat exposure and risks linked to modern production technologies—before submitting evidence-based recommendations to Cabinet.

For more details on this development, read the original report on Nile Post.