About us

The formation of VFL was driven by the widespread worker injustices exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, including mass layoffs, unlawful salary deductions, and unfair dismissals. The growing prevalence of informal employment within the formal sector, alongside unregulated new forms of work such as digital labour platforms, temporary agency work, outsourcing, and subcontracting, further expose workers to vulnerability.

 

Uganda’s current labour laws remain inadequate in addressing these evolving employment trends. Traditionally designed for bilateral employment relationships, they fail to regulate complex work arrangements, such as triangular employment structures where multiple employers operate within a single workplace. This regulatory gap leaves workers unprotected, increasing job insecurity and precarity.

 

Additionally, globalization and neoliberal economic policies have deepened employment inequalities, disproportionately affecting women and youth, who face limited access to decent jobs, job security, and fair wages. The informal economy remains largely unprotected, with existing legal frameworks overlooking the rights and needs of informal workers.

 

In response to these challenges, VFL was established as a strong advocate for workers’ rights, aiming to address labour injustices through accessible justice, strategic litigation, research, advocacy, campaigns, education, and training. Its mission is to defend and promote the rights and interests of workers across both the formal and informal economy, ensuring fair treatment, protection, and dignity at work.