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Conrad Mupesa Chinhoyi Bureau
Employers and employees have been urged to ensure safety and health in the work place to increase productivity.
In his speech read by Makonde acting District Administrator Mr Joseph Manyurapasi at the belated World Day for Safety and Health at Work commemorations held in Chinhoyi recently, Minister of State for Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs Webster Shamu said both employers and employees had a role to play in improving lives.
This, he said, enhances productivity at the workplace. The world commemorates the day each year on April 28.
“Every employer and employee should recognise that good safety and healthy performance adds value to employees and business alike. It also enhances productivity,” he said.
“The national thrust should therefore be to integrate safety and health into all economic initiatives for this beloved country.”
He said Government accords high priority to occupational safety and health.
“This is a culture that respects the sanctity of human life and respect of workers’ rights to safe work is a prerequisite to fulfil principles enshrined in the decent work agenda,” he said.
Minister Shamu said Government was not only moving to create employment for the youths, but also ensuring their health and safety.
“Improving safety and health for young workers not only to promote decent youth employment, but also to employ these efforts to combat hazardous environments,” he said.
“Today, we are being challenged to reflect on the young workers in our work places.
“Have we taken a minute go look at this group of workers and have you thought of intervening to protect future leaders of our nation?
“To date Government has ratified two world conventions related to child labour, which are also part of this year’s campaigns, namely; ‘the minimum age convention 138 of 1973’ and ‘the Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labour’.”
Government has also pledged to implement programmes that protect children while providing opportunities for them to grow.
Online Reporter