Zambia: Zambia commemorated World Day for Safety and Health at Work at Zambia Sugar’s Nakambala Estate in Mazabuka. The Minister for labour and Social Security, Brenda Tambatamba delivered a brief address at the event.
The event was convened under the theme “Impact of Climate Change on Occupational Health and Safety.”
Minister of Labour and Social Security, Brenda Tambatamba wants the government to implement measures to combat climate crisis. She made the remarks in relation to the Occupational Safety and Health.
Presiding over the event, she claimed, that Corporate Social Responsibility begins with safety and life preservation for workers. The commemoration of the event was hosted on Sunday, with several government officials and high level politicians in attendance.
Minister Tambatamba asserted that workplace safety is directly related to the Right to Life. Accordingly, the people of the country and the administration needs to prioritize the same.
Southern Province Permanent Secretary, Dr Namani Monze, noted that the region was the perfect venue to host the event. The event served as a platform to raise awareness about the role of climate-change in the country’s drought situation.
He also discussed the affects of the said drought on the health and safety of the country’s working class. Due to the drought, the Southern Province’s tag of a Maize and Beef Belt was under threat.
The province was also engaging in the agriculture of Soya Beans, which experienced threat from effects of Climate Change.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Zambia Sugar, Oswald Magwenzi, called for investment in expertise. He also urged the personnel to focus on safety and health at the workplace.
He highlighted that “Zambia Sugar views safety as a product that needs various attributes repeated consistently to succeed, with structured Safety Systems, Policy, Rules devised.“
Meanwhile, International Labour Organization representative, Penny Munkawa reaffirmed ILO’s commitment towards supporting integration of climate change programmes in occupational safety and healthy services.
This year’s World Day for Safety and Health at Work concluded with a tree planting ceremony. The initiative is meant to spread awareness about the importance of worker safety and health.