The need to integrate safety and health at work into green job policies was highlighted at the World Occupational Health and Safety Day celebrations in Lautoka today.
Speaking at the celebrations at Natabua High School today, Minister for Labour and Industrial Relations, Mr Jone Usamate said that World OHS day is an opportunity to reflect on health and safety issues at workplaces.
Mr Usamate said it is also a time to remember all those who faced OHS challenges at their workplaces.
“Green jobs initiative is a joint initiative of the United Nations Environment programme and the ILO, the International Organisation of Employers and international trade unions. It seeks to support and promote environmentally sustainable or green jobs and decent work,” Mr Usamate said.
He said that green economies require changes in the way we do things such as in technology and the changes in standards for what is accepted internationally.
“A true green job or a true green economy must integrate safety and health into design, procurement, operations, maintenance, sourcing and recycling policies, certification and quality standards.
This is especially relevant for sectors such as construction, waste recycling, solar energy production and biomass processing,” the minister said.
Mr Usamate said ensuring health at work has an impact on the labour market as workers have to be trained and they assess the way things are done in light of the new policies.
He added that government is currently working on reforms to ensure better occupational health and safety at workplaces.
“Government in its part is intent on ensuring that together we can build a better, sustainable Fiji as enshrined in the Peoples Charter for Change, Peace and Progress.
“We are currently reforming our Workers Compensation Act and developing a Draft Work Care Decree for occupational health and safety and also workers compensation. All these reforms will lead to changes that will result in better enterprises, better workplaces and ultimately a better society,” Mr Usamate added.
The theme for this year’s celebrations is ‘Promoting Occupational Health and Safety in a green economy’.