By: Nicholas Osei-Wusu
The Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, has inaugurated a Taskforce in the Ashanti region with a mandate to inspect workplaces to enforce compliance with Health and Safety laws and regulations toward promoting a congenial working environment for employees, employers and visitors.
Inauguration of the workplace Safety and Health Compliance Taskforce comes just weeks after the newly opened multimillion dollar China Mall at Odeneho Kwadaso in Kumasi was completely razed down by fire, even though without any human casualty.
The mandate of the Taskforce is to inspect the level of compliance by employers with provisions of the Factories, Offices and Shops Act 328 of 1970 and the Labour Law, Act 651 that require employers to ensure their premises are safe for everybody who enters whether as employee, employer or client.
Key on the checklist to be inspected by the Taskforce are Fire Safety Certificate, availability and condition of Fire Extinguishers, Insurance, environmental hygiene, workers’ Appointment Letters, contribution to workers’ SSNIT, availability of separate places of convenience for males and females.
The Taskforce Members must always be in their official gear and in groups without taking ‘gifts’ in any form before or after their work.
The Minister for Employment, Jobs and Labour, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, said the inauguration of the Taskforce is a step towards monitoring and strengthening workplace safety and ensuring that workers operate in conditions that protect their safety and dignity.
“We all known that every workplace accident carries human cost and national cost as well. Families are affected, productivity falls and confidence in workplace is undermined. And therefore, be resolute in ensuring that legislative protections such as the Factories, Offices and Shops Act, 328 and the Labour Act 651 are effectively translated into save conditions at the workplace”, the Minister tasked the Taskforce.
Dr. Pelpuo commended the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the governing NDC, Andrews Nana Kwasi Augustus, for the role he played in getting the regional Taskforce constituted.
The Minister asked the Taskforce members to show genuine commitment to their mandate to make the workplace safe for everyone.
The Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr. Richard Boadi Agyemang, said a modern economy must run on the back of safe workplaces, responsible employers, empowered workers and a regulatory system responsive to situations not at the expense of human lives.
“This initiative is not merely an administrative exercise, it’s a bold and necessary step toward protecting life, dignity and productivity of workers across our region”, he noted.
He said the fairness, professionalism and integrity displayed by members of the Taskforce would determine the success of their work. They must carry their work without fear or favour with a high sense of transparency and service to the natoon.
The National Chairman of the Safety and Health Compliance Taskforce, Dr. Daniel Ayikwei, referencing the China Mall disaster, emphasized the cost of any work place accident to individuals, the company and the nation.
Members of the Taskforce were advised to always ensure professionalism and also educate employers and workers on why they must comply with the health and safety regulations in accordance with existing laws to ensure cooperation and support.
