6 May, 2025The Uganda Textile, Garment, Leather and Allied Workers’ Union (UTGLAWU) has petitioned the Parliament of Uganda’s committee on tourism, trade and industry, over gross abuse of workers’ and human rights at Fine Spinners Uganda.
UTGLAWU, an IndustriALL affiliate, is “calling for an immediate investigation and rectification of the egregious violation of workers’ rights at Fine Spinners Uganda Limited.”
In the petition on 14 April, the union strongly reminded the employer of their responsibility because workers, “deserve to work in conditions that uphold their dignity and rights.”
The union outlined how garment manufacturer, Fine Spinners, is violating workers’ rights that are protected by national labours laws. These include violations on freedom of association by refusing to sign a recognition agreement with UTGLAWU which has unionized over 50 per cent of the workers. The employer has refused to sign for over 10 years and even ignored a directive from the ministry of labour and employment to comply with the law.
Fine Spinners is also not paying wages on time making life difficult for workers and their families as they fail to pay school fees, rentals and other basics. Further, the company is paying much less than other companies. The union says workers at Fine Spinners are paid 150 000 Uganda Shillings per month (UGX) (US$41) while the industry wages are around 800 000 UGX per month (US$217). Pregnant workers lack maternity protection, including maternity leave and are required to work night shifts. The employer is also failing to remit the national social security funds deductions. Further, workers have informed the union of being locked in factories without emergency exits.
In one case, a worker reported the sexual harassment she faced and physical assaults from an attempted rape that led to severe injuries to her neck and teeth. The worker, who was seven months pregnant, had a miscarriage because of the violent attack. She reported the attempted rape to the police and the case is now in Nakawa Magistrate Court. But Fine Spinners’ response to the court action was to terminate her contract after five years of service while the perpetrator, who is a manager, remains at work.
“There are alarming reports of gender-based violence, harassment and abuse including sexual exploitation and rape by some managers which have been reported to the police and yet the perpetrators are not punished,”
said Eli Peter Bendo, UTGLAWU, general secretary.
In letters to Fine Spinners, Ugandan Member of Parliament for Workers, Byakatonda Abdulhi, said he is facilitating dialogue between the garment company and UTGLAWU to address the union’s concerns. Trade union federation, the National Organization of Trade Unions, is also involved. Through its lawyers, Fine Spinners, indicated willingness to engage in dialogue with the unions.
IndustriALL Sub-Saharan Africa regional secretary, Paule France Ndessomin, said:
“We welcome the facilitation of dialogue by the workers’ MP and urge Fine Spinners to stop abusing workers and respect workers and human rights as well as pay living wages.”