Introduction

Many NGOs in Uganda use interns, volunteers, and other categories of persons. The names given to volunteers and interns may differ across organizations, but the common practices among most organizations are:

• Volunteers or interns do not get salaries.
• Some organizations give interns and volunteers some kind of benefit or allowance for upkeep (this does not apply across all organizations and all volunteers within the same organization).
• Most volunteers or interns are persons who are learning and are either sent by institutions of learning, such as universities, as part of the requirement for their education or are on holiday but generally work with the NGO to gain hands-on experience.
• Some interns or volunteers are experienced persons, mainly retired persons who come to give a hand to the organization in one way or another.

The different ways organizations treat volunteers give rise to several issues that may need to be looked at. Some practices can qualify the volunteers or interns to be treated as employees under different laws. They can also qualify to be on an apprenticeship, depending on the circumstances. Below are some of the areas to be considered.

Is a volunteer considered an employee?

The law will treat a volunteer as an employee depending on the nature of the arrangement that exists between the volunteer and the employer. Where the volunteer receives regular payment in form of upkeep, such can be considered a form of employment. (This can be applied under laws such as the NSSF Act).

Who is an apprentice?

An apprentice is a worker who is engaged primarily for the purpose of receiving training in a trade or profession.

From the definition above, interns or volunteers (or whatever name an NGO calls them) who are engaged by the NGO for purposes of gaining skills in particular sectors are apprentices.

This would include two categories of people who commonly engage with NGOs and these are:

• Volunteers or interns sent by institutions of learning for the purposes of practising a certain profession, whether from within Uganda or outside.
• Volunteers or interns who are engaged by the organization for purposes of learning or gaining experience.

Who qualifies to be an apprentice

According to the employment regulations, a person with a minimum age of seventeen (17) years qualifies to be employed as an apprentice.

It should be noted that the law provides for a minimum age but does not provide for a maximum age. This means any person aged 17 years and above can be an apprentice.

How long should an apprenticeship be?

A person can enter into a probationary period for an apprenticeship for a maximum of three (3) months. After this, a person can enter into an apprenticeship for a maximum of three (3) years.

Are there any special requirements for the engagement of an apprentice

Yes, the law requires apprenticeship contracts to be registered with the Labour Officer. The law also requires the employer to confirm an apprentice on probation within twenty-one (21) days after the expiry of the probation period.

What are the rights of a volunteer, intern, or apprentice

An apprentice, intern, or volunteer has the same rights as an employee. They should not be discriminated against. See the rights of employees for details.

However, there are some limits on the rights of an apprentice or a person engaged to learn. For example, such a person can not claim that he/she has been subjected to forced labour if the work he or she is engaged in is part of the education requirements.