Between:

EMPRESS HOME CARE

Address: Clement Mall, Room F87, Lira City, Uganda

Email: empresshomecareug@gmail.com

Hereinafter referred to as “Empress Home Care”

AND

CLIENT / EMPLOYER:

Hereinafter referred to as “the Client”

AND

WORKER:

Hereinafter referred to as “the Worker.”

Empress Home Care, the Client and the Worker are collectively referred to as “the Parties.”

1. Purpose of the Agreement

The purpose of this Agreement is to set out the terms and conditions under which the Worker will provide domestic services to the Client for a fixed period of six (6) months.

The Parties agree that the placement is based on the information provided by the Client and the Worker before the commencement of the placement.

This Agreement is intended to provide clear expectations regarding the Worker’s duties, payment, accommodation, treatment, safety, working conditions and the responsibilities of all Parties.

2. Contract Period

The placement shall begin on:

and shall end on:

The agreed period is six (6) months.

The Agreement shall automatically come to an end on the stated End Date unless the Parties mutually agree in writing to extend or renew it.

Any extension or renewal should be discussed before the expiry of this Agreement and documented separately or through a written amendment.

3. Position and Duties of the Worker

The Worker is engaged as:

The main duties shall include:

The Worker shall perform reasonable duties that are related to the agreed position.

The Client shall not knowingly introduce substantial additional duties that were not disclosed or agreed upon at the beginning of the placement without first discussing the matter with the Worker and, where necessary, Empress Home Care.

The Worker agrees to carry out agreed duties responsibly, respectfully and to the best of their ability.

4. Client's Declaration of Truthful Information

The Client confirms that all information provided to Empress Home Care and the Worker concerning the placement is true, accurate and complete to the best of the Client’s knowledge.

The Client specifically confirms that they have truthfully disclosed relevant information concerning:

• The number of people living in the household;
• The number of rooms;
• The expected duties of the Worker;
• The number of people the Worker will be caring for;
• The location of the workplace;
• Accommodation arrangements;
• Any special household requirements;
• Any other circumstances that may reasonably affect the Worker’s duties or safety.

The Client shall not deliberately provide false information, conceal material information or misrepresent the nature of the work in order to obtain the Worker’s agreement to the placement.

If significant information was deliberately withheld or falsely presented and this materially changes the conditions of the placement, Empress Home Care may review the placement and take appropriate action, including arranging for the placement to end.

5. Worker's Declaration

The Worker confirms that the personal information and documents provided to Empress Home Care are truthful and belong to the Worker.

The Worker agrees to:

• Perform the agreed duties responsibly;
• Treat the Client and members of the household respectfully;
• Respect the Client’s property and privacy;
• Follow reasonable household instructions;
• Keep confidential information about the household private;
• Avoid theft, intentional damage or other misconduct;
• Communicate any serious problem or concern promptly;
• Observe reasonable safety requirements;
• Not abandon the placement without reasonable notice except where there is an immediate threat to the Worker’s safety.

The Worker shall also inform Empress Home Care if the actual conditions of the placement materially differ from what was agreed before placement.

6. Workplace and Household Details

The Worker shall ordinarily perform the agreed duties at the workplace stated above.

The Client shall not permanently transfer the Worker to another household, residence, business or substantially different location without discussing the change with the Worker and, where necessary, Empress Home Care.

Household Members

The Client shall disclose the household members relevant to the placement:

If there are additional household members, the Client shall disclose them to Empress Home Care.

Persons Receiving Care

Where the Worker is responsible for childcare or caregiving, the relevant information shall be recorded below:

The Client shall inform Empress Home Care and the Worker of any material care requirements that may affect the Worker’s duties.

7. Accommodation

Where the Worker is employed as a live-in domestic worker, the Client shall provide safe and suitable accommodation for the Worker for the duration of the placement.

The accommodation should:

• Be reasonably safe and secure;
• Provide reasonable privacy;
• Protect the Worker from exposure to dangerous conditions;
• Have access to appropriate sanitation facilities;
• Be suitable for overnight residence;
• Not be used as a means of punishment or intimidation.

The Client shall not intentionally deny the Worker reasonable access to food, water, sanitation or a safe place to sleep.

The Client shall inform Empress Home Care if circumstances arise that materially affect the Worker’s accommodation or safety.

8. Food and Basic Welfare

Where the Worker is a live-in Worker, the Client shall provide reasonable access to adequate food and drinking water.

The Worker shall not be deliberately denied food or basic necessities as a form of punishment, discipline or retaliation.

Both the Client and Worker agree to communicate respectfully regarding dietary requirements, household arrangements and reasonable personal needs.

9. Working Hours and Rest

The Parties shall agree on reasonable working hours appropriate to the duties and nature of the placement.

The Worker should be given reasonable time to rest and attend to personal matters.

Where duties regularly extend substantially beyond the originally agreed arrangement, the Parties should discuss the matter and, where appropriate, contact Empress Home Care.

10. Salary and Payment

The agreed salary for the Worker is:

Payment shall be made:

Where Empress Home Care is responsible for receiving and paying the Worker’s salary, the payment arrangement and applicable service charges shall be separately communicated to the Client.

The Client shall not unlawfully withhold the Worker’s agreed salary.

Any deductions from salary must be lawful, properly explained and agreed where required.

Registration Fee Deduction

The Worker acknowledges that the required Empress Home Care registration fee was not paid by the Worker at the beginning of the placement.

The Worker therefore agrees and authorizes Empress Home Care to deduct UGX 10,000 (Ten Thousand Uganda Shillings) per month from the Worker’s salary for the first three (3) months of this Agreement to recover the outstanding registration fee.

The total amount to be recovered through these deductions shall be UGX 30,000 (Thirty Thousand Uganda Shillings).

The deductions shall be made as follows:

After the three-month deduction period, no further amount shall be deducted from the Worker’s salary for this registration fee.

The Worker confirms that they understand and accept this arrangement by signing this Agreement.

Salary Changes

The agreed salary shall remain as stated in this Agreement unless a change is mutually agreed upon by the relevant Parties and documented in writing.

11. Empress Home Care Service Fee

Where applicable, the Client shall pay Empress Home Care the agreed one-time connection fee separately from the Worker’s salary.

The connection fee payable to Empress Home Care is not the Worker’s salary. It is a one-time placement/connection fee paid separately from the Worker’s salary.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, payment of the connection fee does not constitute payment of the Worker’s salary.

The connection fee is not refundable.

12. Respectful Treatment and Zero Violence

The Client, Worker and members of the household shall treat one another with respect.

Violence, physical assault, threats, sexual harassment, sexual abuse, intimidation, degrading treatment, deliberate humiliation or other abusive conduct shall not be tolerated.

The Client shall not physically punish, assault or threaten the Worker.

The Worker shall likewise not physically assault, threaten or intentionally harm the Client or any member of the household.

If there is an allegation or report of violence, abuse, serious threats or another serious safety concern, Empress Home Care may investigate the matter and take appropriate steps, including removing the Worker from the placement where necessary for safety.

Where appropriate, serious incidents may also be reported to the relevant authorities.

13. No Forced or Undisclosed Work

The Worker shall not be required to perform work for another household, person or business without appropriate agreement.

The Worker shall not be transferred to another household or location without the necessary consent and discussion with the relevant Parties.

The Client shall not use the Worker for undisclosed commercial work or require the Worker to perform duties materially different from the agreed placement without discussion.

14. Transportation

The Parties shall agree on transportation arrangements where transportation is required for the placement.

Where transportation to the placement or return to the Worker’s home is required, the responsibility for the applicable transportation costs shall be:

Any significant change to the agreed transportation arrangement should be discussed with the relevant Parties.

15. Worker's Personal Documents and Property

The Worker shall retain reasonable control and access to their personal identification documents and personal belongings.

The Client shall not unlawfully retain the Worker’s identification documents as a means of controlling the Worker.

The Worker shall likewise respect and protect the Client’s property.

16. Property Damage, Loss and Allegations

The Worker shall take reasonable care of the Client’s property and shall not intentionally damage, misuse or take property belonging to the Client.

The Client shall not automatically deduct money from the Worker’s salary for alleged loss or damage without a lawful basis.

Where property is lost or damaged and responsibility is disputed, the Client and Worker should discuss the matter and, where necessary, involve Empress Home Care or the appropriate authority.

Accidental damage shall not automatically be treated as intentional misconduct.

17. Confidentiality and Privacy

The Worker agrees to keep private information about the Client and household confidential.

This includes, where applicable:

• Family matters;
• Financial information;
• Personal information;
• Security information;
• Household conversations;
• Passwords or access information;
• Private photographs and documents.

The Client shall also respect the Worker’s reasonable privacy and personal information.

Neither Party should publish private information, photographs or personal details of the other Party without appropriate consent, except where disclosure is required by law or necessary for safety.

18. Emergencies and Medical Situations

In the event of a serious illness, accident, injury or emergency, the affected person should receive appropriate assistance as soon as reasonably possible.

The Client shall notify Empress Home Care where a serious incident involving the Worker occurs.

The Worker shall also notify Empress Home Care of any serious workplace incident where reasonably possible.

Any medical expenses, insurance arrangements or other costs shall be handled according to the applicable law and any separate agreement between the Parties.

19. Absence and Failure to Report to Work

The Worker should notify the Client and, where reasonably possible, Empress Home Care if the Worker is unable to report to work due to illness, emergency or another legitimate reason.

The Client should notify Empress Home Care if the Worker fails to report to work without explanation.

Repeated unexplained absence, abandonment of the placement or failure to communicate serious absence may be treated as a breach of this Agreement.

In cases of genuine emergencies, the Worker shall be given reasonable opportunity to communicate the situation as soon as practicable.

20. Complaints and Problems

If either the Client or Worker has a serious concern regarding the placement, they should first communicate the concern to the other Party where it is safe and reasonable to do so.

Empress Home Care may be contacted for assistance in resolving placement-related concerns.

Complaints may include:

• Salary/payment disputes;
• Working conditions;
• Accommodation;
• Excessive or undisclosed duties;
• Misconduct;
• Abuse or harassment;
• Failure to follow the agreed placement conditions;
• Serious communication problems.

The Parties agree to provide truthful information when raising a complaint and to cooperate reasonably in resolving disputes.

21. Early Termination

Although this Agreement is for six months, circumstances may arise requiring the placement to end before the agreed End Date.

Either the Client or Worker should provide reasonable notice where they wish to end the placement without serious cause.

Immediate termination or removal may be considered where there is serious misconduct, violence, abuse, theft, serious dishonesty, a serious safety risk, abandonment, or another substantial breach of this Agreement.

Where possible, Empress Home Care should be informed before an early termination is finalized.

Termination of the placement does not remove any payment, property, confidentiality or other obligations that arose before termination.

22. Replacement or Replacement Request

Where a placement ends early or the Client requests a replacement, Empress Home Care may review the circumstances and, where applicable, assist with a replacement according to its current replacement policy and any applicable fees or conditions.

A replacement is not automatically guaranteed where the termination resulted from the Client’s undisclosed information, unsafe conditions, abuse, violence, unlawful conduct or other breach of this Agreement.

23. Client's Responsibilities

The Client agrees to:

1. Provide accurate information about the placement.
2. Provide a reasonably safe working and living environment.
3. Pay the agreed salary on time.
4. Provide agreed accommodation where applicable.
5. Provide reasonable access to food and basic necessities for a live-in Worker.
6. Treat the Worker respectfully.
7. Avoid violence, threats, harassment and abuse.
8. Not deliberately change the Worker’s duties without discussion.
9. Inform Empress Home Care of serious incidents or material changes to the placement.
10. Respect the Worker’s reasonable privacy and personal belongings.
11. Provide accurate information about the household and persons requiring care.
12. Not permanently transfer the Worker to another household or substantially different workplace without appropriate discussion and agreement.

24. Worker's Responsibilities

The Worker agrees to:

1. Perform the agreed duties responsibly.
2. Be respectful to the Client and household members.
3. Protect household property.
4. Maintain reasonable cleanliness and hygiene.
5. Keep household information confidential.
6. Follow reasonable and lawful instructions.
7. Inform the Client or Empress Home Care about serious problems.
8. Avoid theft, violence, intentional damage and serious misconduct.
9. Respect the agreed working arrangement.
10. Provide truthful information concerning their identity, experience and qualifications.
11. Notify the Client or Empress Home Care where reasonably possible when unable to report to work.
12. Not work for another household or person under this placement without appropriate agreement.

25. Empress Home Care's Role

Empress Home Care acts as the placement and management agency responsible for facilitating the connection between the Client and Worker and supporting the placement in accordance with the agreed arrangement.

Unless separately agreed in writing, the Client is responsible for the day-to-day supervision of the Worker and the Worker performs the agreed domestic services for the Client.

Empress Home Care may:

• Facilitate the placement;
• Maintain relevant worker and client records;
• Communicate placement conditions;
• Assist with resolving disputes;
• Follow up on serious complaints;
• Assist with salary administration where separately agreed;
• Take reasonable steps where there are serious concerns regarding safety or breach of the placement conditions.

Empress Home Care does not remove the Client’s responsibility to provide a safe and lawful working environment or the Worker’s responsibility to perform the agreed duties responsibly.

26. Worker Documents and Records

The following Worker documents or records may be provided or verified as part of the placement:

The Parties acknowledge that the availability of particular documents may depend on what the Worker has provided to Empress Home Care.

27. Changes to the Agreement

Any significant change to the duties, salary, accommodation, location, working arrangement or other important condition should be discussed and agreed upon by the relevant Parties.

Where the change materially affects the placement, it should be documented in writing.

No verbal promise shall automatically override this Agreement unless the Parties agree to the change in writing.

28. End of Six-Month Period and Handover

At the end of the six-month period, the Worker shall complete any reasonable handover of household responsibilities and return any property belonging to the Client.

The Agreement shall end on the stated End Date unless the Parties agree in writing to extend or renew the placement.

Any continued employment or placement after the End Date should be documented through a new written agreement or written extension.

Any outstanding salary, agreed payment or other obligation arising before the end of the Agreement shall remain payable or enforceable as applicable.

29. Dispute Resolution

The Parties agree to first attempt to resolve disagreements through direct communication and, where necessary, assistance from Empress Home Care.

Where a dispute cannot be resolved informally, the Parties may seek assistance from the appropriate authority or use any other lawful dispute-resolution mechanism available under the laws of Uganda.

Nothing in this Agreement prevents any Party from seeking urgent assistance where there is a threat to health, safety or personal security.

30. Compliance With the Law

The Parties agree that this Agreement shall be interpreted and performed in accordance with the applicable laws of Uganda.

Nothing in this Agreement is intended to remove or reduce any legal right or protection that cannot lawfully be waived.

31. Entire Agreement

This document represents the Parties’ understanding concerning the six-month domestic worker placement.

The Parties confirm that they have had an opportunity to read and understand the Agreement before signing it.

Each Party confirms that they are entering into the Agreement voluntarily and that they have not knowingly relied upon false information provided by another Party.

Acknowledgement

By signing this Agreement, the Client and Worker confirm that they have read, understood and accepted the terms governing the six-month placement.

Each Party should retain a copy of this Agreement.

EMPRESS HOME CARE — TRUSTED HANDS FOR YOUR HOME