President Yoweri Museveni has signed the Employment (Amendment) Act, 2025, introducing a series of reforms aimed at strengthening protections for vulnerable workers in Uganda. The legislation updates the Employment Act of 2006 but does not address the long‑standing demand for a national minimum wage.
The amendment, tabled in 2022 and passed by Parliament in 2023, was returned to lawmakers for further consideration after the President raised concerns about recruitment‑agency regulation, the adjudicative powers of labour officers and licensing responsibilities. The Gender, Labour and Social Development Committee incorporated many of those recommendations before the bill was finally assented.
Key provisions include formal recognition of domestic workers and tighter safeguards against exploitation such as excessive working hours, forced labour and abuse in private households. The Act also expands sexual‑harassment protections to all workplaces, regardless of size, and gives the Minister of Labour authority to introduce preventive measures that align with International Labour Organization standards.
Recruitment agencies that place Ugandan workers abroad must now obtain licences, maintain proper documentation and provide enforceable contracts for migrant employees. The law further clarifies employment conditions for casual workers, stipulating that continuous service beyond six months may be converted into a formal contract, a step intended to reduce job insecurity.
Additional measures improve entitlements for breastfeeding mothers, requiring employers to allow nursing breaks and, where feasible, provide suitable facilities. The amendment also resolves inconsistencies in severance‑pay calculations and clarifies sick‑leave entitlements, areas previously subject to varied court interpretations.
Despite these advances, the Act leaves wage regulation untouched. Uganda continues to operate without an enforceable national minimum wage, even though the Minimum Wages Advisory Board framework exists. Labour unions and civil‑society groups argue that the absence of a wage floor contributes to widespread underpayment, especially in informal and low‑income sectors.
The timing of the amendment coincides with International Labour Day, heightening scrutiny of Uganda’s labour policies. Stakeholders warn that enhanced legal protections may not translate into better livelihoods without clear wage benchmarks. As the country marks Labour Day, attention is likely to focus on whether the government will move toward a comprehensive minimum‑wage policy to address persistent wage inequality.
