Advocating for National and Sub-National Smoke-free Workplaces Policies in Uganda

Brief on Tobacco Control Project (UNACOH, March 2011)

Title of Project: Advocating for National and Sub-National Smoke-free Workplaces Policies in Uganda

Background

Although Uganda signed and ratified the WHO FCTC on 5/3/2004 and 20/06/2007 respectively, it still lacks strong and effective tobacco control policies. Provisions of Article 8 are weakly addresses by The Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2006; The Public Health Act, 1964; and The Control of Smoking in Public Places Regulations, 2004. The Ministry of Health has come up with a draft Tobacco Control Policy but it is yet to be approved by Cabinet.

Despite these significant efforts there is still no explicit National Tobacco Control Policy in place and likewise most organisations do not have workplace smoke free policies. It is in view of this that UNACOH proposed to engage stakeholders to address the issue of smoke free workplaces, both at national and workplace levels. UNACOH got support for this from Health Canada, through the long time partner organisation, the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA).

The aim of the project was to advocate for the development of a National policy on (tobacco) smoke-free working environment in Uganda, to be domesticated at workplace level (with development of sample individual workplace tobacco control policies).

Project Area: Kampala, Jinja and Wakiso Districts

Target:

National and District Stakeholders in the areas of Tobacco Control and Health and Safety at work, as well as 15 workplaces with at least 100 workers and more.

Activities Included:

• Rapid survey of workplaces
• Advocacy meetings, both at national and district level, with key stakeholders.
• Policy formulation meetings
• Development of workplace smoke-free policies with 5 participating workplaces
• Documentation and report writing
• Dissemination of project report.

Findings:

• Many people are aware of the dangers of tobacco smoking, to a less extent the dangers of second hand tobacco smoke, BUT very few are aware of the existing national and international legal framework to control tobacco use.
• Many workplaces and other stakeholders are willing to develop Smoke Free Workplace Policies if they can be assisted to do so.

Impact/Results:

• Raised awareness and knowledge on the legal framework for tobacco control in Uganda among the participating workplaces and the various stakeholders.
• Cementing of partnerships with key stakeholders in Smoke Free Workplace action.
• Two of the workplaces have developed draft Tobacco Control Policies and have put in place Tobacco Control Committees, to be followed by Tobacco Control Programmes.
• The Federation of Uganda Employers (FUE) has proposed to include Tobacco Control in their Health and Safety training and advisory activities.
• The National Union of Trade Unions has proposed to include Tobacco Control in their Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) with Employers.
• The Confederation of Free Trade Unions has proposed to develop a Tobacco Control programme within each of the member Labour Unions.
• The Ministry responsible for labour matters will encourage enterprises to form health and safety committees to handle tobacco control issues in the workplaces, among other issues.
• The National Environment Authority to conduct regular surveillance of public places to enforce regulations concerning smoking in public places, including workplaces.