Govt must prioritise health, safety of workers

EDITOR — The health and safety of the Zimbabwean workforce is taken too much for granted. We are exploiting our own people. I have personally witnessed many young and middle aged people performing manual jobs without the provision of protective clothing.

It must be regulated fully so that every company or organisation employing 50 or more people must engage a health and safety officer/advisor who is solely responsible for ensuring that health and safety at work are prioritised.

This ensures that workplace hazards are reduced to as low as reasonably practicable.

Health and safety must be everyone’s responsibility.

The Government must protect the workforce. I have observed lots of unsafe acts and conditions in many companies where they worry about profit not the health of the people of Zimbabwe.

The same workers who are expected to work under harsh conditions go for many months without salaries.

In some cases they only get transport allowance to ensure the worker comes back to work, that’s modern slavery and exploitation.

The Government must lead by example and employ qualified health and safety practitioners in all departments and thereafter enforce the law and see health and safety of the workforce as a priority. Concerned Worker.