Platform for Labour Action (PLA) is a national civil society organization and also a company limited by guarantee with fifteen years’ experience in labor matters as well as capacity building through training programs for domestic workers and duty bearers involved in employment as well as external recruitment.
We are the leading labor rights NGO in Uganda with global networks recognized by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and other national stakeholders as experts in labor matters.
PLA is also registered by the Uganda Services Bureau, the National NGO Board and accredited by law council to offer legal aid services.
The PLA is also a member of the civil society anti-trafficking coalition.
Our experience in working with domestic workers
Since 2004, the PLA has been promoting the human rights of female youth and women domestic workers in Uganda. To date, we have trained more than 129,000 domestic workers and equip them with knowledge and skills on domestic work and also skilled 7,500 youth in vocational skills.
In addition to conducting training for domestic workers and duty bearers involved in external recruitment and employment, PLA has qualified staff who have gained experience in working with domestic workers and duty bearers. It has a team of lawyers, social workers, human rights advocates who have trained domestic workers on labor and employment legislation, domestic workers rights and responsibilities and developed a model employment contract for domestic workers.
Training and supporting domestic workers for self-help and coaching domestic workers in business strategies:
PLA has enabled 753 domestic workers to form 61 small mutual support groups through which they learn timekeeping, record keeping, savings and are able to save, share experience, transform and appreciate their work and confront challenges. This unique module forms part of the pre-departure training.
The PLA also provides coaching in business strategies for domestic workers and this has enabled 399 domestic workers to have side income-generating activities to supplement their small earnings.
Training and skilling domestic workers
Domestic workers have been provided support as well as skilling. This has been through working with several vocational institutes which offer vocational skills training for vulnerable youth in Uganda including skilling in home economics, first aid, cookery, laundry, and baby care.
We work with a series of vocational training institutions to train students who have been withdrawn from exploitative forms of work and those at the risk of exploitation to acquire skills in catering, Hotel management, mechanics, woodwork, Hairdressing, Computer skills. As a result of the technical training, the graduates from the vocational institutions have successfully attained gainful employment as mechanics, waiters, chefs, hairdressers, and shoemakers thus improving their livelihoods and employment opportunities.
Interest and concern for migrant workers
PLA has held radio programs to educate the public on the precautions one needs to take before going to work abroad and has developed and disseminated posters and calendars, banners to raise awareness on safe migration.
Our training curriculum for migrant domestic workers
We offer a unique module based on our 15 years’ experience in addition to the mandatory program from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.
We offer our candidates a training certificate which Is credible based on our reputation and experience. Our training module ls based on 3 rights and livelihoods approach which. enables the domestic worker to understand that domestic work Is work. We also enable them to understand their responsibilities and that when you work is when you earn a wage.
We change the mindset of all our domestic workers because we have done it, seen it and experience it. 97 96 of the domestic workers who go through our training programs are able to work for longer periods with employers such as 5-7 years. They are able to be transformed from a rural setting into affluent households.
