Every hour of the day someone in the world is being laid off or declared redundant in the workforce, with devastating repercussions, particularly in the developing world where unemployment of a single person often means the ruin of an entire family, many times the extended family. Lack of job security in Uganda locks individuals and communities in a vicious cycle of poverty.

Recent studies indicate that 24.5% of Ugandans, most of whom are children, are living below the poverty line. And a 2010/11 household survey by UBOS estimated that 2.75 million children in Uganda are engaged in child labour, 51% (1.4m) of whom are involved in hazardous work. Unsafe working conditions, inadequate access the healthcare, the aftermath of war, the HIV/AIDS pandemic and a lack of adequate social security coverage for all persons continue to worsen the plight of these already vulnerable workers.

Platform for Labour Action (PLA) is a national civil society organization founded in 2000 by a group of female activists in response to the absence of an appropriate voice to address the rights of and issues facing marginalized workers, especially women, youth and children. Under the direction of a multidisciplinary Board, and through community task force members, peer educators and human rights activists, PLA staff work tirelessly to promote and protect the human rights of vulnerable and marginalized workers.

This is through community outreach, research, legal aid, advocacy for human rights, support for vocational and formal education, and actions against child exploitation; withdrawal, protection and rehabilitation.

PLA has headquarters and a secretariat in Kampala, and field offices in Lira, Iganga and Wakiso Districts. PLA continuously collaborates in different initiatives and partnerships with local, national, regional and international institutions and organizations.