National Conference on Safety and Health at Work launched in Mozambique
Minister of Labor Employment and Social Security in Mozambique Ms. Victoria Dias Diogo says every citizen has a patriotic responsibility and duty to develop a culture of prevention of occupational accidents and diseases so as to ensure a long and healthy life for all.
28 April 2017
She said the contribution to the effective use of more precious human capital resources, and managing financially and materially sustainably was significant as opposed to wasteful health care and other costs incurred in connection with repairs caused by the absence of safety and health at work prevention.
Mrs. Diogo said this during the national conference on safety and health at work in Mozambique recently. She further added that safety and health at the workplace needed to be embraced by the employer and the employee. The employer ought to create conditions for the safety of employees and ensure the correct use of protective equipment and serve as inspectors so that all safety standards are followed by employers.
The Minister disclosed that in Mozambique, statistics from 2016 pointed about 500 reported work-related accidents, but believed that the reality was much more because there were many occurrences that were not yet recorded. The more reason she called upon everyone to be a vector of dissemination of good practices, positive and proactive behavior.
“Let us remember that around the world 270 million occupational accidents and a little more than 170 million occupational diseases are registered each year. “she added.
She further reiterated his Excellency Carlos de Rosário - the Prime Minister, who made a clear recommendation to ensure the process of collecting data on occupational accidents and diseases was strengthened. This is in an effort to facilitate protection of human lives in the workplace and allow the formulation of Policies for the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases.
In concluding her address, the minister reminded the Provincial Directors of Labor Employment and Social Security that now that the challenge was launched, there was need to promote a culture of prevention of occupational accidents and diseases, with the mission of reducing these problems at the worker level and for the good functioning of their companies.
Meanwhile the International labour organization’s Country office for Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique Mr. Alexio Musindo disclosed that approximately 2.3 million workers die every year from work-related injuries and diseases. An additional 160 million workers suffer from non-fatal work-related diseases and 313 million workers suffer from non-fatal injuries per year.Mr Musindo said the economic costs to companies and economies is significant.
He further added that the ILO estimated that more than 4 per cent of the world's annual GDP was lost as a consequence of work-related injuries and diseases.
He expressed discontentment noting that millions of workers estimated do not properly reflect the magnitude of the problem, nor the real impact of occupational accidents and diseases on workers, families, businesses and economies.
“Better national data is needed for a better understanding of the dimensions and consequences of work-related accidents, injuries and diseases and to underpin effective policies and strategies for safe and healthy workplaces” Mr. Musindo said.
The lack of information was one of the main reasons that explained the theme of this year’s commemoration, “Optimize the Collection and Use of OSH Data”, which focused on the need for each country to improve its capacity to collect, analyze and utilize reliable occupational safety and health data. Mr. Musindo accentuated that reliable OSH data was necessary for the generation of information that was essential for informed decision-making with regards to the establishment of priorities and accident prevention programmes at both national and workplace level.
Mr. Musindo was impressed to note that the Mozambique National Employment Policy was already poised to make significant improvements to its system for the collection and processing of OSH data. Implementation of the main actions proposed in Pillar six of the policies would then significantly contribute to improved occupational safety and health at workplaces.
He reckoned that having good OHS data would assist Mozambique fulfil its commitment to implement and report on the global plan of action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. This is part of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Sustainable Development Goal No. 8, in particular, provided for the promotion of “inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.”
Target 8.8 of SDG No. 8 focuses on the “protection of labour rights and promotion of safe and secure working environments for all workers.” The same SDG requires countries to report on the “frequency rates of fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries” by various categories including gender.
Mrs. Diogo said this during the national conference on safety and health at work in Mozambique recently. She further added that safety and health at the workplace needed to be embraced by the employer and the employee. The employer ought to create conditions for the safety of employees and ensure the correct use of protective equipment and serve as inspectors so that all safety standards are followed by employers.
The Minister disclosed that in Mozambique, statistics from 2016 pointed about 500 reported work-related accidents, but believed that the reality was much more because there were many occurrences that were not yet recorded. The more reason she called upon everyone to be a vector of dissemination of good practices, positive and proactive behavior.
“Let us remember that around the world 270 million occupational accidents and a little more than 170 million occupational diseases are registered each year. “she added.
She further reiterated his Excellency Carlos de Rosário - the Prime Minister, who made a clear recommendation to ensure the process of collecting data on occupational accidents and diseases was strengthened. This is in an effort to facilitate protection of human lives in the workplace and allow the formulation of Policies for the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases.
In concluding her address, the minister reminded the Provincial Directors of Labor Employment and Social Security that now that the challenge was launched, there was need to promote a culture of prevention of occupational accidents and diseases, with the mission of reducing these problems at the worker level and for the good functioning of their companies.
Meanwhile the International labour organization’s Country office for Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique Mr. Alexio Musindo disclosed that approximately 2.3 million workers die every year from work-related injuries and diseases. An additional 160 million workers suffer from non-fatal work-related diseases and 313 million workers suffer from non-fatal injuries per year.Mr Musindo said the economic costs to companies and economies is significant.
He further added that the ILO estimated that more than 4 per cent of the world's annual GDP was lost as a consequence of work-related injuries and diseases.
He expressed discontentment noting that millions of workers estimated do not properly reflect the magnitude of the problem, nor the real impact of occupational accidents and diseases on workers, families, businesses and economies.
“Better national data is needed for a better understanding of the dimensions and consequences of work-related accidents, injuries and diseases and to underpin effective policies and strategies for safe and healthy workplaces” Mr. Musindo said.
The lack of information was one of the main reasons that explained the theme of this year’s commemoration, “Optimize the Collection and Use of OSH Data”, which focused on the need for each country to improve its capacity to collect, analyze and utilize reliable occupational safety and health data. Mr. Musindo accentuated that reliable OSH data was necessary for the generation of information that was essential for informed decision-making with regards to the establishment of priorities and accident prevention programmes at both national and workplace level.
Mr. Musindo was impressed to note that the Mozambique National Employment Policy was already poised to make significant improvements to its system for the collection and processing of OSH data. Implementation of the main actions proposed in Pillar six of the policies would then significantly contribute to improved occupational safety and health at workplaces.
He reckoned that having good OHS data would assist Mozambique fulfil its commitment to implement and report on the global plan of action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. This is part of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Sustainable Development Goal No. 8, in particular, provided for the promotion of “inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.”
Target 8.8 of SDG No. 8 focuses on the “protection of labour rights and promotion of safe and secure working environments for all workers.” The same SDG requires countries to report on the “frequency rates of fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries” by various categories including gender.