Skyfat Tannery Company Limited, a leather-processing plant located in Loco Village, Jinja South City Division, Uganda is undergoing significant changes following the deportation of 20 Chinese expatriates.
These workers, who had been with the factory for over 19 years, were in key leadership roles, overseeing various departments and spearheading market development. However, their inability to secure both local and international markets ultimately led to their dismissal and deportation.
In June 2024, over 100 local employees were laid off as part of a broader restructuring process. The layoffs came without any form of compensation, leading to rising tensions among the workforce.
On September 28, some of the retrenched workers took to the factory gates in protest, demanding three months of unpaid wages. Despite their efforts, management denied them entry, further aggravating the situation.
Skyfat’s management cited “poor management” as the primary reason behind the dismissal of the Chinese workers. In a bid to reset its operations, the company has since appointed a new management team, which has vowed to provide opportunities for the local workforce.
As part of this initiative, six new Chinese workers have been hired to train Ugandan staff, with the goal of transferring skills and improving productivity.
Jinja City Council Labour Officer, Mr. Joshua Bagoole, expressed concern over the way Skyfat Tannery handled the layoffs. He pointed out that the factory had failed to adhere to proper legal procedures during the retrenchment process, a situation not uncommon among factories in the area.
Many local factories have reportedly been lax in following labor laws, particularly in creating safe working environments and ensuring the rights of employees.
Chris Isingoma, Skyfat’s current operations manager, addressed the unrest by confirming that the factory would not rehire the laid-off employees. However, he assured the public that their overdue salaries would be paid in full.
Furthermore, the new management is set on offering the vacated positions to local workers, provided they can meet certain qualifications, such as the ability to write reports in English.
One of the representatives of the retrenched workers, Mr. Joseph Komakech, has been with Skyfat Tannery for 19 years. He urged the new management to hold monthly departmental meetings to openly discuss the challenges faced by the workforce and improve the overall welfare of the employees. These regular discussions, he argued, would foster a better working environment and boost performance.
The local community, represented by LC1 chairperson Mr. Boniface Wadenga, also voiced its concerns over the deportations. Wadenga noted that if the claims of worker mistreatment are true, the deported Chinese workers had left behind a negative legacy that the new management must work hard to overcome.
