The Department of Labour under the Ministry
of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment recently sensitised
West Coast Region workers on occupational safety and health.
The day-training seminar held at the
Governor’s conference hall was themed: “protection of workers against
work-related sickness, diseases and injury.”
Speaking at the forum, Governor Aminata
Sifai Hydara thanked officials of the department of Labour for the initiative,
saying sensitization would help safeguard the welfare of employees and ensure
safe work environments.
She stressed the need for participants to
make best use of the knowledge gained.
The United Nations Volunteer (UNV) labour
specialist at the department of Labour, Carla Nzowloe, commended the UNDP and
the Government of The Gambia for funding the forum.
She said it came when the department
discovered that there are problems and lots of industrial accidents being
reported, which has made it necessary to sensitise workers in the country.
She said it is essential they get workers
to think about occupational safety and health, especially those who operate in
the private spheres, so as to continually get protected in the short and long
term.
A major area of focus of the recently-held
sensitisation sessions was treating the issue of the occupational safety and
health.
The principal labour officer, Abdou Saidy,
in his remarks on the occasion, noted that the employer has a responsibility to
the worker and the worker has a responsibility to himself, saying they have the
right to a safe and healthy workplace.
He said the employer must supply personal
protective clothing and other safety equipment, and ensure compliance with
requirements for its use, as well as correct all unsafe and unhealthy
conditions found during inspection, among others.
