In light of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, observed on April 28, the Pancyprian Federation of Labour (PEO) highlights in today’s announcement that “unfortunately, we have not managed to eliminate or even reduce the daily risks faced by workers in the workplace.”
“Despite the promises and goals set for reducing occupational accidents,” PEO states, “the numbers bring us face to face with the bitter reality that thousands of workers in 21st-century Cyprus are injured in their workplaces, and, most tragically, around 12 workers lose their lives for a day’s pay.”
PEO emphasizes that promoting policies of safety and health in the workplace is crucial for ensuring the safety and health of workers.
It adds that “it is not enough nor does it absolve employers of their responsibility to ensure that their employees work in safe conditions, the condolences expressed after a workplace accident. The questions are very specific: Do they intend to invest in safety measures and means? Do they take their obligation for risk assessment, for safe machinery, for substantive functioning and role in safety and health committees?”
The announcement further notes that “proposals we have submitted, such as making it mandatory for employers to train newly hired workers on Safety and Health issues, to have mandatory training on a regular basis for workers in sectors prone to occupational accidents, introducing Safe-Pass in the construction industry, unfortunately, are not progressing.”
The role of the Ministry of Labour and particularly the Labour Inspection Department is also crucial in the proper and effective implementation of legislation on Safety and Health, the announcement states, concluding as follows: “PEO calls on workers not to compromise on measures to prevent occupational accidents, but rather to be assertive and militant for their unalienable right to return from their work Healthy and Whole.”
