IN THE QUEST TO MEET THE CHALLENGES
OF GLOBALISATION THE NATIONAL POLICY ON OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND
HEALTH HAS BEEN A PRIORITY CONCERN
– DR. SAHIB SINGH
Dr. Sahib Singh,
Union Labour Minister has said that in the recent years we have
witnessed a large scale impact of liberalization and privatization
on the Indian economy. These changes have no doubt brought various
positive results, but there have also been some negative aspects
of globalization. One of the adverse impact has been the neglect
of safety and health of the workers and the environment at workplace
due to increased levels of competition in the economy. In the
quest to meet the challenges of globalization, the concerns of
the safety and health of the workers in the Industry has receded
into the background. It is in this context that the National Policy
on Occupational Safety and Health has become a priority concern.
Dr. Sahib Singh was inaugurating a Conference on National Policy
on Occupational Safety and Health in New Delhi today.
Dr. Sahib Singh also
said although the Government of India has already framed various
policies on subjects like industrial development, agriculture,
environmental pollution, export and import, fertilizer, information
technology, etc., yet there is no specific policy which addresses
the issues connected with the health and safety of working population
in the country and hence the need for a coherent policy on Occupational
Safety & Health. With the advancement of technology, new concepts
such as outsourcing, flexible work schedules, homework, telecommuting,
etc have emerged in all spheres of economic activities. Large-scale
mechanisation, automation is also taking place in the field of
agricultural production; hazardous chemicals are being used in
various activities, necessitating measures for protection of safety
and health of working class. Therefore, I feel it is necessary
that Occupational Safety & Health issues are addressed from
all angles by the concerned social partners for achieving the
target of better work environment for our workforce. A National
Policy on Occupational Safety & Health is a beginning in that
direction, he said.
The Planning Commission
had set up a working group on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)
which recommended formulation of a National Policy on Occupational
Safety and Health. Further the ILO Convention No. 155 concerning
occupational safety and health and working environment requires
that every member country should formulate a coherent and comprehensive
National Policy on OSH. The Directive Principles of State Policy
also provide for, among others, securing the health and safety
of workers (men and women) just an humane conditions of work,
protection of tender age of children against abuse and empowering
the Government to take suitable measures or resort to such means
as may be deemed fit through the participation of workers and
employers. Accordingly, a task force was constituted under DG
FASLI, under the Ministry of Labour to prepare a draft policy
in this regard. This draft policy was debated today. The agenda
for today’s conference included presentation of views by workers’
organisations; presentation of views by employers’ organisations;
presentation by National Safety Council and presentation by Indian
Association of Occupational Health. The inauguration session was
also attended by Secretary Labour, DG FASLI., Joint Secretary
in the Ministry of Labour Shri Chandramouli and Labour Ministers
from Goa, Rajasthan, Manipur and Jharkhand.
These presentations also gave
a direction to the meeting which, in turn, would assist in drawing
a road map for developing and OSH policy and an Action Plan for
implementation. It was felt that Action Plan should consist of
important elements like enforcement, setting of National Standards,
Codes of Practices in all economic activities consistent with
international standards, compliance by all concerned, cooperation
of social partners, developing guidance on OSH management systems,
providing measures to prevent catastrophes, prioritizing key issues
for action, and sharing of information of OSH among different
stake holders through a national network on Occupational Safety
and Health.
