Nine companies dealing in the horticulture business have signed recognition agreements with Uganda Horticultural and Allied Workers Union committing themselves to uphold workers rights and enhance their salaries.

Uhawu General Secretary Stephen Baraza described the development as a major milestone in fighting for the rights of workers in the cut flower industry who have for long been oppressed by their employers.

"This is a major achievement on our part and we are optimistic the workers fraternity in the flower cut industry are going to start enjoying their rights as enshrined in Articles 29 (1) (e) and 40 (3) of the constitution and the Labour Unions Act," he said.

The companies which signed agreement with the union include Fiduga, Wagagai, Jambo Roses, JP Cuttings and Exclusive Ccuttings. Others are AURUM Rose, Uga Rose Flower, Melissa Flowers, Expression Flowers and Mairye Estates Ltd.

The agreement was signed on October 6. In August, workers in the flower cut industry expressed their plight while meeting State Minister for Labour Emmanuel Otaala who said he was overwhelmed by workers complaints ranging from low pay to poor working conditions.

The minister said some workers were being terminated from work without being given their benefits. Workers in the cut flower sub sector say their current wage of Shs2,000 per day is too little to sustain them and their families.

The flower cutters also say they are not provided with protective gear even when they use chemicals. The cut flower business is a booming industry in Uganda, with about 21 flower farms registered in the country.

According to Mr Baraza, workers in the nine companies are now free to form internal unions; an exercise he said had already kicked off.

"We have started registering big membership into unions and the drive is on going until we reach each and every worker in the sector," he said.

National Organisation of Trade Unions (Notu) Chairman Usher Wilson Owere recently directed all unions affiliated to Notu to ensure that all workers are organised.

"This will improve harmony at workplace, good industrial relations and productivity," he said.

He also asked them to negotiate for conducive wages which can make the workers to attain good standards of living. At least 1.2 million workers are unionised in Uganda.