Meeting seeks improved occupational safety for construction workers

Laos will continue to work with its development partners to build capacity around occupational security and safety and related diseases of workers at construction sites.
Director General of the Labour Management Department under the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Phongsaysack Inthalath, made the commitment during a recent meeting covering health and safety at work sites and occupational security in small construction management.

The meeting was attended by an Occupational Safety and Health Expert from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Office in Bangkok, Thailand, Mr Choi Jungho.
The meeting aimed to help participants consider safety, health and welfare conditions on construction sites and learn about possible solutions to problems. The content was developed primarily for construction site workers, their representatives, and the workers’ immediate supervisors.
According to the ILO, there are still a high number of accidents and illnesses that occur in the workplace which result in injuries, disabilities, disease, and death. Safety and health in construction is the responsibility of all, both in the public and private sectors. The meeting heard that 80 percent of victims could be protected if governments, civil society organisations, and employers had the correct policies and suitable protection measures in place.
Participants considered safety, health and welfare conditions on construction sites as there has been increasing investment in infrastructure, factories, construction projects, commercial production, and service businesses, which has led to the increasing use of Lao labourers, the majority of whom are from rural areas.

By Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth
(Latest Update April 4, 2019)