Ministry Calls on Stakeholders to Enhance Safety and Health at Work Place

Addis Ababa May 3/2019 Minister of Labor and Social Affairs (MoLSA) called on all stakeholders to give due attention to safety and health at work .

Speaking at the World Day for Safety and Health at Work celebrated here today, MoLSA State Minister Ayelech Eshete said issues of safety and health in Ethiopia need to be given due attention by stakeholders, considering it as one of the development agenda of the country.   

She stated that investors are obviously creating many jobs for citizens, at the same time the investors need to develop safety and health services for workers.

Integrative approach among stakeholders and continuous training about safety and health has  to be enhanced to protect safety and health of the workers before problems happen since technology related problems are becoming complex with time, the state minster noted.

Ethiopian Industry Employers Confederation Secretary-General, Dawit Moges said safety and health related issues are increasing at work places as industries are expanding.

According to him, 60 out of 100,000 workers face physical, psychological and social damages every year due to safety and health related problems in the work place.

The confederation is working with the government to reduce the vulnerability by giving preventive mechanism training for the workers and following their health status every six month, he stated.

The secretary-general suggested that the government increases the number of occupational safety controlling workers to expand safety and health services at all work places.

Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions Vice President, Ayalew Ahmed said the main problem of safety and health at work place is the absence of active participation and lack of initiation on the part of investors and insurance companies for safety and health issues of workers.

There is also lack of awareness of employees about preventive methods for safety and health, he added.

Therefore, employers as well as employees need to give priority for safety and health at work place.

Globally, about 374 million persons suffer light and serious injuries while 2.78 million lose  their lives every year.