HÀ NỘI - Dialogues on occupational safety and health policies are essential to share information and increase understanding among employers, workers, trade unions and agencies, according to an official.

Lê Tấn Dũng, deputy minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, made the comment at a dialogue of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health yesterday on polices and laws on labour safety and hygiene.

He affirmed the dialogue was an opportunity to suggest, amend and supplement policies and laws to match reality.

The meeting aims to discuss difficulties and obstacles in the implementation of the law on labour safety and hygiene.

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), about 6,400 workers die each day worldwide as a result of occupational accidents or work-related diseases and 680,000 are injured at work a day.

The burden of injury, sickness and death has led to severe human and economic damage, necessitating investment in occupational safety and health at the international, national and enterprise level.

In Việt Nam, more than one million young workers join the labour market every year. Labourers aged 15-24 account for 15 per cent of the labour force in the country.

Young workers are also 40 per cent more likely to have occupational accidents than older workers.

Chang Hee Lee, director of the ILO Office in Hà Nội, said that education about the dangers and risks and rights of workers should be started at schools, through vocational training programmes to help young people understand risks and their ability to protect themselves.

Enterprises should be more aware of occupational accidents also.

Improving occupational safety and health for young workers could only be achieved through efforts from many sides such as employers, workers and organisations representing employers and workers, he said.

This dialogue is part of activities to respond to World Day for Safety and Health at Work on April 28 to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally.

It is an awareness-raising campaign intended to focus attention on emerging trends in occupational safety and health and on the magnitude of work-related injuries, diseases and fatalities. 

Hà Nội plans to launch an action-month for occupational safety and health in May as part of the city’s efforts to raise public awareness about the issue.

At the dialogue yesterday, delegates also discussed issues related to new policies being introduced and progress achieved after the council’s 2017 dialogue.

Organisations, agencies and businesses reported opinions, suggestions and difficulties to the national council in implementing the State’s policies and regulations in labour safety, especially initiatives on administrative procedure reform, saving time and money for individuals, organisations and enterprises as well as the efficiency of State management. - VNS