ILO and ECAM train 51 employers on occupational safety and health
On 27 March 2024, the International Labour Organization (ILO) through the ‘Addressing Decent Work Deficits and Improving Access to Rights in Malawi’s Tobacco Sector (ADDRESS’ project, funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Lilongwe, and the Employer Consultative Association of Malawi (ECAM) jointly organized a master class training on Occupation Safety and Health (OSH) for employers at Crossroads Hotel in Blantyre.
27 March 2024
Over 51 employers from various sectors including, tobacco buying companies and supply chain actors attended the workshop.
The objectives of the workshop were to build the capacity of employers to address safety and health, and to enhance compliance of national and international laws to ensure safer and healthier workplaces that foster decent work and reduce occupational accidents and diseases.
Officially opening the workshop, ECAM Executive Director, Mr. George Khaki urged employers to abide by occupational, safety and health requirements in the workplaces.
Mr. Khaki added that there was need for employers to conduct risk assessments and formalize business operations to contribute towards the promotion of Decent Work Agenda and creation of sustainable enterprises.
“Employers have an important role and responsibility for the occupational safety and health of their workers. It goes without saying that safety and well-being of workers contributes towards attaining fundamental principles and rights at work,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Labour, Acting Director of Occupational Safety and Health, Mr. Goodluck Kayange said Malawi ratified Convention 155, Convention 187 and Convention 184 of the ILO in 2019, stating that the government was in the process of domesticating the conventions.
“We have the first ever Occupational, Safety and Health policy in draft developed with support from the ILO, awaiting review and adoption by Cabinet,” said Mr. Kayange.
The workshop was conducted in the context of the ILO Convention 155 on Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155), Convention 187- Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187) and Convention 184 (C184), Safety and Health in Agriculture Convention, 2001 (No. 184) that calls for employers to comply with OSH laws and regulations but also highlights that the management of OSH in a workplace is not only a question of legal compliance, but also provides a business premise.
ILO Occupational, Safety and Health (OSH) Specialist, Ms. Peneyambeko Munkawa oriented the participants to the elevation of OSH as a fundamental principle and right at work, and implications on business.