Championing the Rights of Market Workers

The Uganda Markets and Allied Employees Union (UMAEU) is a vital labor union in Uganda, dedicated to advocating for the rights and welfare of market workers across the country. Registered under the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development (Labour Union No. 23), UMAEU plays a crucial role in protecting the social, economic, and occupational safety rights of vendors and market employees.

With a strong focus on collective bargaining, women’s empowerment, and occupational safety, UMAEU ensures that market workers—who form a significant part of Uganda’s informal economy—have a unified voice in demanding fair treatment and improved working conditions

Organizational Mandate and Legal Framework

UMAEU operates under the constitutional provisions of Uganda, particularly Articles 29 and 40 (Clause 3), which guarantee workers’ rights to association and fair labor practices. Additionally, the union aligns with ILO Convention 204, which emphasizes the formalization and protection of workers in the informal economy.

The union’s core mandate includes:

• Advocating for fair wages and better working conditions.

• Promoting occupational safety and health standards in markets.

• Empowering women vendors, who constitute 70% of its membership.

• Engaging in collective bargaining with local authorities and the central government.

Jurisdiction and Membership

UMAEU represents workers in all types of markets across Uganda, including:

• Developed and undeveloped markets

• Roadside and seasonal markets

• Evening markets and street vendors

• Supermarkets and related workplaces

Membership Statistics

• At its peak, UMAEU had one million members, making it one of the largest labor unions in Uganda’s informal sector.

• Due to challenges such as COVID-19, membership declined to approximately 400,000.

• 70% of members are women, reflecting the union’s strong focus on gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.