The Punjab cabinet has approved Labour Policy 2018. Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) is one of the main features of the draft Labour Policy 2018 of the Punjab government. According to labour policy draft "No compromise will be made on health and safety of the labour community at workplace making it mandatory for all the industrialists and employers to provide necessary safety equipment and environment to the labourers working at their premises". Improving enforcement through revamping inspections mechanism will greatly help out Punjab government to ensure safety of industrial workers from diseases and accidents.
Provincial Minister for Labour and Human Resource Ansar Majeed Khan stated this while talking to delegation of German Organization GIZ led by its Director Romina on Saturday.
Majeed Khan said that reform based realistic amendments have been made in the labour laws to improve the living standard of the labour community aligned with their emerging desires while also encompassing the ever long concerns of the employers.
Labour inspections and reporting system has been revamped in the new labour policy to ensure safety and health of workers at their work place. Employers will ensure to provide all safety equipments and environment at their workplace otherwise they will not be allowed at any cost to risk the life of labourers and run their business. Ansar Majeed Khan further said that implementation of international labour standards by capacity building of labour inspectors to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of labour inspections is another salient feature of new labour policy of the Punjab government.
It is pertinent to mention here that GIZ has played a pivotal role by providing technical support and awareness through its training programmes to the labour department regarding preventive measures against health hazards and diseases often faced by labrourers at industrial units.
The Minister lauded the efforts of GIZ and German government for its strong collaboration with Punjab labour department to develop a state-of-the-art computerized data based monitoring and reporting system at workplaces to avoid any risks of accidents and further rehabilitation of industrial workers. The OSH legislation shall cover employers, workers and other in all sectors of economy as well as ILO communication and recommendations, the Minister concluded.