Committee being set up
THE Ministry of Labour has set up a committee to look after wellness in the workplace.
News of this has come from Minister of Labour and Social Partnership Relations, Colin Jordan, who spoke at a seminar hosted by Regal Development Solutions.
“My Ministry in collaboration with the Barbados Workers’ Union and the Ministry of Health and Wellness have established a National Committee for Wellness in the Workplace,” Jordan said.
Stating that important regulations are long overdue and will enhance the operationalization of the country’s Safety and Health Act, Jordan said that the policy addresses nine dimensions of wellness covering physical, psychological, environmental, social, intellectual, occupational, spiritual, culture and financial.
According to him, “It is geared towards equipping workers with the necessary tools and mechanisms to effect meaningful changes in their lives. It is expected that these will result in benefits that are far-reaching not only for the worker, but to families, communities and to the nation.”
The Minister said he is convinced that in creating the future that we want as it relates to wellness, “health and safety for our workers will redound to improving the social and economic climate in Barbados”.
“As part of our drive to enhance our working environment, we must understand and never underestimate the impact that we as workers have on our environment and conversely, the impact that the environment has on us as workers,” the Minister reasoned.
Jordan said that in an effort to support and enhance the legislative framework, the Safety and Health at Work Act, at Sections 105-108, makes provisions for the development of regulations related to safety, health, welfare and general matters.
Furthermore, he went on, the ILO Convention No. 155 on Occupational Safety and Health and the accompanying Recommendation No. 164 outline actions required to be taken at the national level, which includes the issuing of regulations.
“I am pleased to inform you that within my Ministry, we have completed our discussions on nine initial Regulations to accompany the Safety and Health at Work Act,” the Minister recalled.
He pointed out that these range from examining noise levels, to access to and the use of personal protective equipment, visual display units and workstations, the availability of drinking water, and the provision of sanitary conveniences or bathroom facilities.
He stated that within the next month, the requisite Paper will be prepared for consideration by the Cabinet, after which the Chief Parliamentary Counsel’s office will be required to prepare the regulations.