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The proposed bill aims to amend the existing 2006 Occupational Safety and Health Act. It will majorly focus on addressing health and safety concerns in all workplaces.
Hon. Betty Amongi highlighted the necessity of removing inconsistencies in the principal act and streamlining the Minister’s power to make regulations.
Betty Amongi underscored the need for the amendment by pointing out the significant changes in the workplace landscape since the enactment of the Principal Act in 2006.
Developments such as teleworking, virtual jobs, and the outsourcing and subcontracting of labor necessitate adjustments in legislation to ensure the safety and health of workers.
The proposed legislation is tailored to accommodate the evolving nature of sectors such as telecommunications and the extractive industry.
The amendments will address new safety and health challenges arising from increased automation of work. This has reduced the number of workers required in certain activities.
What the amendments entail
Among the key changes, Clause 4 of the bill seeks to amend Section 14, removing the requirement for workplaces with a minimum of twenty employees to implement health and safety measures.
The proposed amendment mandates all employers, regardless of the workforce size, to establish and implement occupational safety and health workplace policies.
If the bill is passed, employers will be obligated to form committees. These will be responsible for developing and executing occupational safety and health workplace policies.
Additionally, employers must implement measures to prevent exposure to noise, dust, vibration, and other hazards, monitoring these factors as recommended by a risk assessment report.
The bill also introduces litigation procedures related to occupational safety and health challenges. Clause 2 aims to replace Section 9, empowering inspectors to institute legal proceedings before a court for any charges, information, complaints, or other proceedings arising under the Act.
They will exercise this empowerment in consultation with the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Check Also;
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![[dropcap]A[/dropcap] section of women in Bugongo parish and Nawangaiza parish in Nawandala Sub County, Iganga District have decried the near-impossible terms set for them to access GROW funds. They have now petitioned their woman member of parliament for Iganga Hon. Kauma Sauda Alibaawo to ask the government for revised terms and conditions. This is to enable them to benefit from the program. The disgruntled women accuse the implementers of the program of charging the money. They are also asking for their land titles and land agreements. They said that such properties are governed by their husbands. These, therefore want the government through their woman MP to intervene and revise the requirements for one to benefit. The women were on Wednesday at Namabwere primary school in Nawandala Sub County. They had gathered in their respective groups to receive over 300 chickens from Hon Alibaawo in her campaign to improve the livelihood of women in Iganga district. Each group was given 50 chicken as start-up capital in their journey to prosperity. Read what some leaders said; Ms Naigambi Lydia from Nawandala Trading Centre says, “They solicited money from us through opening bank accounts and depositing Shs80,000. They also asked for land titles and land agreements from us yet we don’t have such things. I was informed that I needed to have a business with a capital of Shs4m yet my capital was very small.” The chairperson Kisoboka Saving Group in Nawandala Ms. Nakagolo Faith said they were not able to join the program. This is given the many conditions attached. She also asked their woman MP to raise their concerns to the relevant offices. The MP condemned the mode of implementation of the program. She cited that it has turned to benefit the well-off class of women other than the intended group. She further asked the government to intervene saying the current strings attached to the programme are very tight to accommodate a common woman. GROW project is a Government of Uganda initiative that arose out of the need to respond to the needs of women entrepreneurs. This is especially those who want to grow their businesses, sustain their self-employment and create more jobs. Check Also; Iganga District NRM Leaders Urge Museveni To Fulfill Election Promises Of 2021 International Women's Day: Celebrating Progress Towards Equality](https://newslexpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Iganga-women-decry-tough-terms-to-access-GROW-funds-e1731738339732.jpg)