Work-related deaths, injuries cost economy

PUBLIC Service minister Paul Mavima says work-related deaths and injuries are costing the country’s economy and urged companies to combine efforts with the government in investing in resilient occupational safety and health systems.

Officially opening the National Social Security Authority’s 59th National Conference on Safety and Health at Work in Victoria Falls yesterday, Mavima said Zimbabwe’s occupational safety and health performance in the past three years was a cause for concern.

“The human and economic burden caused by workplace accidents and diseases should be a concern to all. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that approximately four percent of the global gross domestic product (GDP) is lost annually due to work-related accidents and diseases. This translates to approximately US$2,8 trillion.

Public Service minister Paul Mavima

“In the Zimbabwean context… an average of 4 750 serious injuries and 45 fatalities were recorded during the three-year period.
“In 2019 alone, 5 082 serious injuries and 49 fatalities were recorded. In 2020, a total of 3 528 serious injuries and 45 fatalities were recorded, while 5 641 serious injuries and 42 fatalities were recorded in 2021.

“By August 31 this year, we had recorded 3 224 injuries with 52 fatalities. There is, therefore, an urgent need to create safe and healthy work environments and prevent worker carnage in our workplaces,” Mavima said.

This year’s conference is being held under the theme: “Creating safe and healthy work environments through and beyond the Covid-19 pandemic”.
Mavima said the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the work environment were “significant and broad, reshaping the organisation of production, workspace arrangements and labour relations”.

“As tripartite constituents we had to face many challenges and effects that Covid-19 has had on the world of work. These challenges range from the risk of transmission of the virus in workplaces, to business survival and economic ruin, to new occupational safety and health risks that emerged because of response measures designed to mitigate the spread of the virus.

“In some instances, many organisations shifted to teleworking or working from home as a way of decongesting the workplace,” he said.
He further said that there was a need to strengthen social dialogue between the government, employers, and workers’ organisations in promoting good occupational safety and health conditions.

“It is common cause that sustainable development goal number 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth cannot be achieved unless we have sound, properly planned and well implemented occupational safety and health systems.
“The most important resource, which is our labour force, should be protected from workplace injuries and diseases. This position also resonates with the inclusive approach, which underpins our national development thrust espoused by National Development Strategy 1.
Suffice to mention that the Decent Work country programme, which we will launch very soon appropriately prioritises occupational safety and health in its programming,” he said.
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