Child Labor in Uganda, Inadequency if Existing Legal Mechanisms

Table of contents

Declaration ............................................................................................................... ii

Approval .................................................................................................................. iii

Dedication ............................................................................................................... iv

Acknowledgement ..................................................................................................... v

Acronyms .............................................................................................................. viii

List of statutes ......................................................................................................... ix

CHAPTER ONE ......................................................................................................... 1

PROBLEM STATEMENT ............................................................................................. 1

1.0 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Background to the Study ..................................................................................... !

1.2 Statement ofthe Problem ................................................................................... 4

1.3 Research purpose ............................................................................................... 5

1.4 Objectives of the study ....................................................................................... 5

1.5 Research Questions ............................................................................................ 5

1.6 Scope of the Study ............................................................................................. 5

1. 7 Justification and Significance of the Study ............................................................ 6

1.8 Literature review ................................................................................................ 7

1.9 Methodology ..................................................................................................... 19

CHAPTER TWO ....................................................................................................... 20

GENERAL OVERVIEW OF CHILD LABOUR AND THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONTEXT ....... 20

2.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 20

2.2 Government Policy on Child Labour .................................................................... 20

2.3 The National Child Labour Policy ......................................................................... 20

2.4 The National Employment Policy ......................................................................... 21

2.5 Plan Of Action On Child Labour ........................................................................... 21

CHAPTER THREE ..................................................................................................... 23

PRACTICAL INTERVENTIONS ................................................................................... 23

VI

3.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 23

3.1 The ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, ..................................... 23

3.2 Universal Primary Education ............................................................................... 23

3.3 Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP) ............................................................... 24

3.4 International Conventions On Child Labour ......................................................... 25

CHAPTER FOUR ...................................................................................................... 28

LEGAL AND OTHER INTERVENTIONS TO ELIMINATE CHILD LABOUR ........................ 28

4.1 The Constitution Of The Republic Of Uganda ....................................................... 28

4.2 The Employment Decree 1975 ............................................................................ 29

4.3 The Children's Statute No. 16 of 1996 ................................................................. 29

4.4 Revisions Made To Labour Laws ......................................................................... 30

CHAPTER FIVE ........................................................................................................ 31

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................ 31

5.1 Conclusion .......................................... .............................................................. 31

5.2 Recommendations ............................................................................................. 32

References ............................................................................................................. 34

CHAPTER ONE

PROBLEM STATEMENT

This chapter presents the introduction of the problem statement, it includes the

background of the study, the statement problem, purpose, objectives and research

questions, the scope, significance, literature review and methodology of the research.

1.1 Background to the Study

According to the Random House Webster's Dictionary (1991), child labour is the gainful

employment of children below an age determined by law or custom.l Child labour is an

old scenario in the Ugandan society but only a few people and institutions have

bothered to understand its causes, effects and ramifications. The problem of child

labour in Uganda has been major attributed to increased household poverty. The

increasing number of poor households in recent decades has forced millions of children

out of school and into work. Weak national laws and domestic violence are among other

factors that were also identified.2 The phenomenon of child labour has evolved over the

years and significantly, what occurred in Europe and North America before and during

the 19th Century Industrial Revolution when children were employed in large numbers,

in industries, commercial undertakings including; street trades and agriculture to an

extent, may explain what is happening in developing countries at the turn of the 21st

Century.l