Rutendo Nyeve
THE National Social Security Authority (NSSA) General Manager, Dr Charles Shava, has described the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Bill (H.B.6.2025) as a significant milestone towards the country realising a new comprehensive OSH framework.
Speaking at the 63rd National Safety and Health at Work Conference in Victoria Falls on Thursday, Dr Shava said the Bill aligns with international best practices and ensures the full domestication of ratified and some unratified ILO OSH Conventions.
“The Bill is a significant milestone towards the country realising a new comprehensive OSH framework aligned with international OSH best practices as well as full domestication of ratified and some unratified ILO OSH Conventions,” said Dr Shava.
He said the Bill seeks to provide for the safety, health, and welfare of persons at all workplaces, including government institutions.
It aims to repeal the outdated Factories and Works Act (Chapter 14:08) and the Pneumoconiosis Act (Chapter 15:08), replacing them with a modernised framework.
Key provisions include the establishment of the tripartite Zimbabwe Occupational Safety and Health Council (ZOSHC) and the Bureau of Occupational Diseases, while mandating NSSA to administer all OSH matters on behalf of the Government.
The Bill is set to revolutionise OSH administration in Zimbabwe by shifting from a prescriptive approach to a risk-based one.
It makes a system approach to OSH management mandatory and requires Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments (HIRA) at every workplace. Furthermore, it strengthens social dialogue through functional OSH Committees and emphasizes developing an OSH culture across all industry sectors, embedding the zero philosophy.
The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Edgar Moyo, revealed that the Bill has successfully sailed through the lower house of Parliament and is now before the Senate.
This development marks a crucial step towards overhauling the country’s workplace safety laws.
The Bill is expected to improve OSH standards in the country significantly, protecting workers against all conceivable hazards and risks. With 15 OSH Statutory Instruments already developed to support it, the legislation promises a safer and healthier future for the Zimbabwean workforce.
