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Bidco workers protest poor working conditions
Jinja Resident District Commissioner, Mr Eric Sakwa (R) and Mr Daniel Ker, the managing director Bidco Uganda Ltd speak to the striking workers.
More than 1,000 casual employees of Bidco Uganda Limited (BUL) in Jinja District have laid down their tools to protest what they describe as the poor working conditions at the facility.
The striking workers said on Tuesday that they are tired of working overtime without bonuses and the failure by management to listen to their concerns.
Mr Jordan Isabirye, who is attached to the transport department, said he has worked with BUL for the past seven years but he has never received an appointment letter, which threatens his job security.
He said that for the last three years, he has never received overtime bonuses.
Mr Lawrence Ojok who is attached to the Loading and Offloading Department said their employers have failed to explain the weekly tax deductions from their pay.
According to Mr James Musisi, another worker who is attached to the Plastics Department they are [workers] not accorded equal employment rights such as day offs and sick leaves as well as promotions which has killed their morale to work.
Later, BUL managers convened a meeting with the striking employees and pleaded with them to call off their strike.
Jinja Resident District Commissioner, Mr Eric Sakwa told the meeting that most of the issues that were raised are administrative adding that the company’s general manager has been given a period of two weeks to address them.
Mr Daniel Ker, the Managing Director Bidco Uganda said that a new management team has taken over the factory and renewed employment policies are being introduced.
He said the factory suffers a communication gap due to lack of a human resource manager who would address employee grievances.
