Examining the remuneration practices for high safety risk operations on building construction sites in Uganda.
Abstract
Construction sites are inherently hazardous, and the risk of accidents is particularly high in
operations or activities with an increasing rate of unsafe acts by construction workers during
construction operations. In Uganda, where the construction industry is growing rapidly, there is a
need to examine the remuneration practices for workers engaged in high safety risk operations on
building construction sites. The research study therefore examined the relationship between the
level of risk in different building operation or activities and the methods of payment of wages for
each construction operative. Furthermore, the study prioritized selected construction operations
based on their safety risk level and rated the method of payment of wages for each operation based
on their frequency of utilization. A site-based survey was conducted using open and closed ended
interview that was used to collect information from the contractors and construction workers in
Kampala, Uganda. The study identified 10 high-risk level and 4 medium- risk level building
construction site operations and or activities. The study also revealed that piece rate wage, time
rate wage and negotiated lump sum wage systems where the most preferred wage payment systems
in the payment of wages for construction workers. The study then desired for the implementation
of fair and adequate remuneration practices for construction workers in the construction industry
that prioritize worker safety and comply with the legal and ethical standards.