Trade union leaders including Members of Parliament have castigated China Town Super Stores a retail business in Kampala, for continuous violation of workers’ rights.
The labour leaders warned the Chinese business chain for denying workers right to belong to Labour unions of their choice to defend and promote Labour rights.
The visibly enraged and tough – talking leaders issuing a warning of a looming closure of the stores if the violations of workers’ rights do not stop.
The leaders were particularly irked by persistent threats on employees and disenfranchisement of workers from trade union activity.
A high powered delegation of Labour Union leaders this month stormed the company’s premises in Bugolobi to demand accountability and compliance with established Labour Laws.
The delegation included Workers Members of Parliament Hon. Arinaitwe Rwakajara, Hon. Annet Birungi, and Female Workers MP Hon. Nakku Fiona.
National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU) Secretary General who is also National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Director Mr Richard Bigirwa was leader of delegation.
Others included IndustriAll Regionsl Cooordinator Ms Catherine Aneno, Deputy Secretary General (Operations) also Hospitality Union General Secretary Mr Frank Mugyema, Textile Union General Secretary Mr Peter Bendo and Civil Society Union General Secretary and Panelist at Uganda Industrial Court, Mr Emmanual Bigirimana, among others.
The leaders were showing solidarity with Uganda Hotels, Tourism and Supermarkets (HTS) union whose organising mission wss frustrated by the Chinese company.
Uganda Hotels and Supermarket Union General Secretary Mr Moses Mauku was upbeat that the intervention by trade union leaders would enhance the process of unionizing employees at the workplace.
He rebuked the Chinese company for hostility and deliberate sabotage of trade union activity hence violation of workers’ rights.
” China Town’ Stores actions are unlawful, oppressive and a violation of the workers’ constitutional rights”.
He said: “The right to form and join a trade union of one’s choice is safely protected under the Ugandan Constitution. Any action that deters workers from trade union activity is unlawful, illegal and contravention of established laws that protect Labour rights,”.

The trade union leaders put China Town Super Store’s management on notice for blocking their workers from joining Uganda Hospitality, Tourism, and Supermarkets (HTS) Union.
Trade union leaders said they an conduct a survey in the country on employers who are exploiting workers and violating Labour Laws.