The Government, Employers and Workers in Tanzania mark the Safety and Health Day in Iringa

“…The Government of Tanzania, workers and employers are devoted to improved safety and health at work for young workers and combating child labour… This is key to reducing incidences of injuries, diseases and deaths in the country…”

This was said by Hon. Jenister Mhagama, Minister, PMO, Parliament, labour, employment, youth and persons with disability, as the country marks the world day for safety and health at work on 28 April 2018, in Iringa Tanzania with the theme “Generation Safe and Healthy for Industrial and Economic development”.

Hon. Mhagama added that as Tanzania is aiming at transforming into a Semi - industrialized, Middle Income country then, efforts must be made to ensure that workers, and especially young workers, are protected workplace hazards thereby lower accident and death rates at their respective workplaces.

She mentioned that “…This year, we are targeting at improving the safety and health of young workers and end child labour. The campaign also aims to accelerate action to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG) target 8 targeting safe and secure working environments for all workers by 2030 and SDG target 8.7 of ending all forms of child labour by 2025. To achieve this, we require concerted and integrated efforts from all of us. She also indicated the, according to ILFS 2014 about 4.2 million children (4-17 years) are in child labour, which is almost 28.8% of the total labour force. Among them, 21.5% are the most form of child labour.

She recalled on ILO Convention No. 187 (2006) “Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention (No. 187)” which calls for ratification and implementation of the OSH conventions and urges governments, in consultation with employers’ and workers’ organizations, to formulate a national policy to promote basic OSH principles. “… As we work on the ratification of this convention and others, we are proud that we already have the OSH policy, since 2003, which is being implemented and is under review…”.

Developing, updating and implementing laws, regulations, policies and guidelines to better protect the safety and health of young workers -

The minister further indicated that according to NBS statistic (2016/17) the prevalence rate on HIV/AIDs stands at 17% for woman (45-49 year), the rate is 1.4% for youth (15-24years). She nagged all workers to check on them health HIV status so as to attack the global for goal of 90-90-90- by 2020.

As regard the informal economy in Tanzania, Hon. Mnagama indicated that according to ILKS 2014 the sector employs about 21.7% of the whole labour force. The sector is comforted by several obstacle in checking reason to coat OSH problems. Poor knowledging on work place, hazards, lack of protective gears leading to injury and disease at their work places. The government comfmes to collaborate with other takes holders to educate the workers in this sector so as to enable them tackle the hazards at their respective environments.

On his part the director, Office for East Africa, Mr. Wellington Chibebe said,

“…Some 2.78 million workers continue to die each year from work related injuries and illnesses, with majority (2.4m) from work related diseases… This toll on human lives, from workplace accidents and injuries today, is unacceptable and is entirely avoidable – let’s act together to make a difference…”.

He narrated that, subjecting youth to hazardous work at adolescence, can create huge educational, physical, psychological, and social barriers – that impede the young person from competing successfully for decent jobs in the future.

In Tanzania young people aged 15 - 35 years make up more than one third of the total population and around 82% of the economically active youth are in vulnerable employment, with 94% of them based in rural areas (ILFS 2014).

Referring to some global data on youth, he said that the global youth unemployment rate rose slightly in 2017, reaching 13.1 per cent, compared to Tanzania at 11.7%.

He further cited several kinds of the hazards which exist at the workplace, with various consequences for the safety and health of young workers including working at high structures; using dangerous machinery, equipment or tools; working with flammable or explosive substances, under water, and working with toxic chemicals e.g. in agriculture.

He called upon employers to ensure that machinery, equipment, premises, and processes under their control, are safe for all workers, and without risk to the health not only of their young employees, but also to themselves.

“…Workers, and especially the youth workers, have to observe laws, rules and regulations that would lead to lower accident rates, and fewer work-related health problems…” he emphasized.

He commended the government’s efforts and of all other stakeholders’in combating child labour in various sectors in the country, including the revision of the National Child Labour Action Plan (NAP).

He also emphasized on establishing awareness raising programmes and integrating OSH into general education curricula so as to help communities, schools, VETC, and organizations understand relevant laws and regulations, requirements, and recognize the areas where young workers need special protection.

The annual World Day for Safety and Health at Work on 28 April since 2003, promotes the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally. It is an awareness-raising campaign intended to focus international attention on how promoting and creating a safety and health culture can help reduce the number of work-related deaths and injuries.