Calls for work safety

Herald Reporter
African government have been urged to promote occupational safety and health policies to prevent workplace accidents that are costing their economies millions of dollars through the early death of productive workers.
Zambia’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mrs Ndiyoi Mutiti told participants at a three-day African Regional Labour Administration Centre (ARLAC) Tripartite workshop in Harare that national and global commitments on occupational safety were needed to retain a healthy workforce on the continent.

“Global and national commitments to improve the quality of life through occupational safety and health policies can help avoid workplace accidents and diseases which are the major causes of disability, early retirement and early death,” she said.

“Creating a safe and healthy working environment will help prevent such occurrences and the corresponding economic cost or losses to both employers and society.”

The workshop held under the theme: “Strengthening Occupational Safety and Health for the Excluded,” discussed ways to improve occupational safety and health system for the excluded. ARLAC director, Mr Daniel Neburagho said reducing accidents and disease at workplaces was beneficial to all stakeholders.

The workshop which was organised by ARLAC drew participants from Botswana, Egypt, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.