adminAbigail Mawonde Herald Correspondent
Zimbabwe’S Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) provisions must cover the informal sector, as nine out of 10 workers are in the informal economy, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has said. ILO Country Director Ms Hopolang Phororo made the remarks during the World Day for Safety and Health at Work commemorations held in Harare recently.
“I would like to commend all efforts made by all the key stakeholders in building a national culture of prevention on occupational safety and health.
“However, much still needs to be done. According to NSSA (National Social Security Authority) statistics in 2015, 54 workers lost their lives at the workplace and 5 380 workers were injured. The incidences of occupational injuries and fatalities have remained high, even in the face of lower capacity utilisation and rising levels of informality (the statistics largely represent incidences in the formal sector).
“We call on the Government, employers and workers’ organisations to continue with their efforts to strengthen provisions on OSH in line with ILO Convention 155 of 1981, which the country ratified in 2003,” she said.
Ms Phororo said the ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions noted that there had not been any legislative changes to support the application of the Convention.
“With nine out of 10 Zimbabwean workers currently found in the informal economy, there is need to extend the provisions of this Convention to this sector. “It calls for innovative and low-cost strategies to extend coverage to this sector, where numerous decent work deficits are prevalent,” she said.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira said formulation of new legislation to promote workers’ safety and health was at an advanced stage.
Online Reporter