Safety at workplace key to productivity, says govt

Malawi Government says taking action for safety and health at workplace is a prerequisite for enterprise productivity and is key to realise a dream of Malawi being an export destination rather than a dumping ground for imports.

Secretary for Labour James Kalilangwe, speaking at the commemoration of World Day for Safety and Health at Illovo Sugar (Malawi) Limited’s Dwangwa Estate in Nkhotakota over the weekend, said government will ensure that standards for occupational safety and health are improved in all sectors of the economy.

“Apart from intensifying inspection of workplaces, we have plans to strengthen capacity, develop a new policy and review regulatory and enforcement systems on occupational safety and health.

“We will ensure that there is sound management of chemicals that require effective and efficient governance through transparency, public participation and accountability involving all shakeholders,” he said.

The activities on the commemoration of the day at the sugar manufacturing plant included a solidarity walk and a tour of the plant, one of the two owned by listed Illovo Sugar (Malawi) Limited.

The theme for this year’s day was ‘Safety and health in the use of chemicals at work’ and Illovo themed its commemorations ‘Target zero’.

Kalilangwe said chemicals are essential for life and their benefits are widespread and well recognised in that they improve the extent and quality of food production, pharmaceuticals, cure illnesses and cleaning products help establish hygienic living conditions.

He, however, said controlling exposures to the chemicals in the workplace, as well as limiting emissions to the environment, are tasks that governments, employers and worker continue to struggle to address.

“While progress has been made in recent years concerning the regulation and management of chemicals, governments, employers and workers continue their efforts to minimise the negative effects of the use of hazardous substances both at national and international levels, it is still insufficient,” said Kalilangwe.

Illovo Dwangwa general manager Ken Tembo said target zero, as per the theme for the company, means that they do not have “to make any mistakes that will have negative impact to our business”.

He said this also means that the environment is taken care of, there quality control and that workers’ safety is guaranteed.

Tembo said they ensure quality in their day-to-day work.

Illovo Sugar (Malawi) Limited is one of the companies that uses heavy machinery; hence, the issues of safety are of paramount importance.