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Office of the Ombudsman raises awareness for workplace safety
The Office of the Ombudsman of Malawi joined the Ministry of Labor in Commemorating World Day for Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) on 7 May 2024, a day dedicated to raising national and international awareness on occupational safety and health.
As an office that advocates for workers' rights to ensure fair and equitable treatment in workplaces, the Offices of the Ombudsman took part in the events marking the day to raise awareness about its existence and services to the workers’ fraternity in Malawi.
Principal Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Mandy Pondani who led the team from the Office of the Ombudsman said the office encourages reporting and whistleblowing aside the mediation and resolution services to labor related disputes.
“The theme for the day this year is on Climate Change and its impacts and our mission is to ensure fair treatment for all workers. Climate change may pose new challenges in occupational safety, and we are here to ensure fair resolutions to any related disputes,” Pondani said.
According to Pondani the Office emphasized that a robust complaint handling mechanism is a requisite for Occupational Safety and Administrative Justice.
She thus called on the Government through the Ministry of Labor to proactively regulate conditions of employment in Malawi, which include conditions governing safety and health in the workplaces per their mandate.
Speaking during the event Minister of Labor Agnes NyaLonje said occupational safety and health covers a wide range of issues including violence and sexual harassment.
“To address these issues, Government, together with social partners, puts in place occupational safety and health policies and legislation. The main objective of such policies and legislation is to prevent harm and protect workers and their rights,” she said.
The Day was commemorated under the theme: ‘this year’s global theme is “The impacts of climate change on occupational safety and health”.
Source: Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Malawi
