Legal Aid Service Provider's Network

PRESS STATEMENT: PROTECTION OF WORKERS AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS FROM INTIMIDATION!!

10 November 2016 -

Written by Laspnet

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9th November 2016
Mengo, Kampala                                                                       For Immediate Release

LASPNET, a National network of 52 Legal Aid Service Providers in Uganda, in concerned about the alleged violation of workers' rights by a Flower farm called Royal Van Zanten and condemns the act of intimidation of Human Rights Defenders particularly FIDA-Uganda and others who are making efforts to offer support to the workers that were allegedly poisoned by the chemicals.

As has been continuously reported in the press since 14th October 2016, 82 workers at the farm were allegedly affected after being forced to enter a greenhouse within a few minutes of spraying with chemicals which caused them headaches, dizziness, skin and eye irritation, difficulty in breathing, abdominal pain and vomiting. Many collapsed and were rushed to the farm clinic. The reports indicate that when the symptoms persisted they were referred to a clinic outside the farm although denied to collect personal medical forms on instructions of RVZ, despite interventions by Uganda Horticulture Industrial Service Providers and Allied Workers Union (UHISPAWU).

Subsequently, the workers contacted the Uganda Association of Women Lawyers (FIDA-U) and Uganda Horticulture Industrial Service Providers and Allied Workers Union (UHISPAWU), the two organizations later transferred 46 women workers to a private hospital for tests and treatment and later to Kadic Hospital

The predicament of the workers of Royal Van Zanten, and others working in similar circumstances especially low skilled workers are not isolated incidences. Reports from the Union as narrated to lawyers show that majority of workers most of whom are young women, work under poor conditions with limited rest, unsafe environment such as exposure to chemicals which violates their rights contrary to the laws established namely;

Article 39 of the Constitution which provides for a Right to a Clean and Healthy
Environment.
And section 13 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 2006 makes it a duty of an employer to provide safe working conditions to his or her employee.

Further reports indicate that on 31stOctober 2016, after a press conference to condemn incidents on RZN farms was convened at FIDA offices in partnership with other organizations namely : Akina Mama Wa Afrika, Action Aid Uganda ; Solidarity Uganda; Uganda Horticulture Industrial Service Providers and Allied Workers Union (UHISPAWU), another meeting was called by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Hon Amelia Kyambadde describing what had happened at the farm as an isolated incident. She subsequently made personal attacks on individual human rights defenders calling their interventions a negative campaign by self-seeking individuals to put pressure on the flower farms to get out of business.

Similarly on 8th November 2016, the Minister and representative of the company took a decision to go to Kadic Hospital in Ntinda with an intention of removing the patients from there to Mulago Hospital. FIDA-U) and the Horticulture Union, were also forced to move to the venue to avert this decision. Their presence again attracted discomfort from the NOTU Secretary General Peter Werikhe, who abused and threatened the CEO of FIDA-Uganda

LASPNET is deeply troubled with the ongoing abuse and lack of respect for human rights defenders and outright impunity of persons in key positions .The human rights defenders are entitled to do their work and be protected from any harassment as provided for under article 1 of UN Declaration of Rights and Responsibility of individuals, groups and organs of society to promote and protect universally recognized rights and fundamental freedoms of 1998 (The UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders).