PLAVU is a national democratic; member based organisation, founded in 2011 and formally registered in 2013, its genesis was motivated by the great need for a platform for vendors to address their critical challenges since they face serious deficits in decent work, poor quality jobs, low productivity and incomes, little to no social protection, poor working conditions and occupational health and sa
fety standards, limited access to knowledge and technology, finance and markets. The common bond in this segment is that they are usually low paid, low status, and they have little job, employment or income security and are vulnerable to abuses of workers’ rights. They are excluded from national framework of laws and regulations and are not covered in official statistical enumeration; they are unrecognized, unregistered, unprotected and socially excluded. These workers problems are compounded by their lack of organisation and voice at work. Target Groups:
a. Market vendors
b. Micro and small enterprises
c. Small scale producers (Jua-kalis)
d. Micro and small scale service providers. Street vendors
f. Hawkers and
g. Waste pickers
2.1 Our Vision:
At Platform for Vendors in Uganda, we envision a dynamic vendors` movement that enjoys decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity. This we believe can be achieved through recognition of and respect of vendors’ socio-economic rights and inclusive urban planning processes.
2.4 PLAVU’S Core objectives:
a) Promote grass root organizing, recruitment, institutional and capacity building initiatives for vendors and their organisations to strengthen voice. b) Provide legal protection and representation of vendors through social dialogue between vendors and government, public and urban authorities, formal enterprises and the general public. c) Identify, advocate and campaign for appropriate legal and policy frameworks that contribute and promote equal opportunities for women and men to secure decent work and economic opportunities, freedoms and rights, productivity and incomes of vendors. d) Engaging in socio-economic empowerment initiatives and development of women vendors’ capacities to take up leadership roles as they form the majority and their role and efforts in the informal economy are critical. e) Ensuring environmental sustainability, conservation and protection of environmental assets through integration of sustainable development initiatives into vending activities (Green infrastructure). f) Research, Education, Development & Publication of experiences, share and dissemination best practices. g) Contribute towards elimination of child labor and promote good practices and access to information to reduce risks of HIV/AIDS infections among vendors and OVCs. h) Business promotion, heightened access to financial services and entrepreneurship development among vendors thus productivity, growth, employment creation and contributing to national development. i) To offer and promote ICT skills, vocational training and rehabilitation measures so as to build capacities and skills of vendors and their organisations. j) Develop social protection mechanisms and promotional measures targeted for people involved in vending enterprises. PLAVU’S Core Departments:
a) Organizing & Recruitment
b) Research, Education & Training
c) Finance & Administration
d) Project Development and Resource Mobilization
e) Legal Department
f) Environment (Green Business and Jobs)
g) Gender, Youth & Equal Opportunities
h) ICT
i) Business Development, Entrepreneurship & Vocational Training.
