Recruit more occupational health staff, Govt urged

Runesu Gwidi in MASVINGO
THE Apex Council, the umbrella body of labour unions registered by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, has urged the Government to prioritise employment of specialists in workplace safety and health-related matters in all its line ministries.

The organisation’s secretary-general Mr David Dzatsunga said on Friday last week that Government should take a leading role in promoting health and safety in the public sector. He made the remarks during an event held in Masvingo to commemorate the World Day for Health and Safety at Work. The event, hosted by the National Social Security Authority, attracted captains of industry, civil servants and representatives from various sectors. Mr Dzatsunga said fatalities, which result from work-related diseases and industrial mishaps were a severe blow to the country’s national economic development. “There is need for Government to recruit occupational health and safety staff. This will help scale down workplace casualties and deaths,” he said.

“We encourage the Government as the biggest employer to be proactive in terms of prevention of occupational hazards. Occupational health and safety measures are more important than remuneration and other benefits. The loss of lives, especially of the working population, is adversely affecting economic development and the growth of our Gross Domestic Product.”

This year’s commemorations ran under the theme “The Future of Work: Towards Vision Zero”. Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs Cde Ezra Chadzamira said the theme resonated well with the current Government’s thrust to ensure that there was a healthy and safe working environment in all companies and institutions.

“As a Government, were are working on a raft of measures to address issues of health and safety in all workplaces and sectors of the economy. This day is important for us as Zimbabweans to reflect on our health and safety background at workplaces,” he said.

The commemorations were attended by representatives of various labour unions, including the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and the Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe (EMCOZ), among others.