Working together for the safety of workers.

Occupational safety and health (OSH) is a mandatory legal requirement to ensure the practical rights and interests of workers. Over the years, trade unions at all levels in Quang Tri province have made many efforts to innovate the content and methods of their activities, gradually improving the quality of OSH work. This has contributed to protecting the health and lives of union members and workers, stabilizing their lives and jobs, helping them feel secure and committed to their businesses, thereby promoting production and business development.

The Occupational Safety and Health Competition in the textile and garment industry contributes to spreading awareness of occupational safety to every union member and worker. - Photo: KHANH HUNG

Following the directives of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor , the Provincial Labor Federation has issued numerous documents guiding grassroots trade unions in implementing the Law on Occupational Safety and Health. At the beginning of each year, the Provincial Labor Federation proactively issues guiding documents and plans for implementing occupational safety and health work, tailored to the specific circumstances of each industry, locality, and establishment.

This includes focusing on building and strengthening the network of occupational safety and health inspectors, organizing regular training on occupational safety and health, coordinating inspections and monitoring of working conditions, the work environment, protective equipment, and implementing policies related to occupational health. Integrating occupational safety and health content into regular dialogues, employee conferences, and trade union activities has become a regular practice in many enterprises.

According to the provincial Labor Union leaders, grassroots trade unions have consistently supported the safety of workers. They have actively participated with employers in developing and monitoring the implementation of plans, regulations, procedures, and measures to ensure occupational safety and health, and improve working conditions. They represent the collective workforce in negotiating, signing, and monitoring the implementation of occupational safety and health clauses in collective labor agreements; and assist workers in filing complaints and lawsuits when their legitimate rights and interests are violated.

Participate in and coordinate with employers to organize inspections of occupational safety and health; monitor and require employers to comply with regulations. Coordinate with employers to organize occupational safety and health training for trade union officials and workers. In addition, coordinate with employers to organize emulation movements and mass movements for occupational safety and health work and build a safety culture in the workplace.

In production units, construction sites, and industrial zones, where the risk of workplace accidents is high, the network of occupational safety and health inspectors truly acts as an "extension" of the trade union. They not only remind and monitor safe work procedures but also directly report shortcomings in working conditions, contributing to the timely prevention of risks.

Some exemplary grassroots trade unions, such as Quang Tri Trading Corporation and Scavi Quang Tri Co., Ltd., have effectively implemented occupational safety and health measures, creating a professional, friendly, and safe working environment for employees.

The work of disseminating information and educating people about occupational safety and health has also received special attention from all levels of trade unions. In addition to using traditional methods such as hanging banners, distributing leaflets, and organizing rallies, units have creatively developed many new communication methods such as competitions for outstanding occupational safety and health officers, online legal knowledge contests on social media, and the production of visually appealing promotional videos. Every year, during the Occupational Safety and Health Action Month, trade unions at all levels in the province coordinate with relevant agencies to simultaneously organize many vibrant and practical activities, contributing to spreading awareness of occupational safety to every union member and worker.

One of the notable highlights in recent times has been the collaboration between trade unions and employers in organizing emulation movements to promote initiatives, technical improvements, technological innovation, and the improvement of working conditions; finding measures to reduce occupational accidents and diseases; and linking occupational safety and health work with patriotic emulation movements such as "Excellent Workers, Creative Workers" and "Green, Clean, Beautiful, Ensuring Occupational Safety and Health".

Through these movements, many technical innovation initiatives have been applied to production practices, both increasing labor productivity and ensuring safety, minimizing accidents. Many businesses have incorporated workplace safety criteria into internal performance evaluations, promptly rewarding teams and individuals who perform well in the process, contributing to the formation of a proactive risk prevention awareness throughout the unit.

In the context of Quang Tri province's efforts to promote modern industrial development and attract investment into the Southeast Quang Tri Economic Zone, Quang Tri Industrial Park, Quan Ngang Industrial Park, etc., the demands placed on occupational safety and health are increasingly high. This requires trade unions to continue innovating the content and methods of their activities towards greater professionalism and effectiveness.

Trade unions at all levels need to strengthen supervision of labor law enforcement in enterprises, especially in the non-state sector; promote the application of information technology in the management and dissemination of occupational safety and health; incorporate occupational safety and health content into collective labor agreements; and further improve the quality of negotiation and dialogue in the workplace.

According to the Provincial Labor Federation, in recent years, trade unions at all levels in the province, together with relevant agencies, have strived to further improve the quality of occupational safety and health work, aiming to achieve the set goals of reducing the frequency of fatal occupational accidents by 3.5% by 2025, increasing the number of workplaces with monitored working environments by 5%; ensuring that 90% or more of those involved in managing and directing the implementation of occupational safety and health work receive training to enhance their capacity; ensuring that over 80% of workers in occupations and jobs with strict occupational safety and health requirements receive occupational safety and health training; ensuring that over 90% of those injured in occupational accidents or diseases receive compensation and allowances as prescribed by law; and ensuring that 100% of fatal occupational accidents are reported, investigated, and handled according to legal regulations.

Khanh Hung

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/dong-hanh-vi-su-an-toan-cua-nguoi-lao-dong-194385.htm