Promoting safe, healthy Work environment

• Labour minister states govt’s plan to ensure workers operate at optimal level

By Vivian Onyebukwa

In order to ensure safe and healthy work environment for Nigerian workers, the Ministry of Labour and Employment does a regular factory exercise to ensure safe and healthy work environment for Nigerian workers.

It is for this reason that the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiru Onyejiocha, recently carried out a symbolic factory inspection exercise at Nestle Nigeria Plc, one of the key players in the industry, to ascertain the level of occupational safety and health compliance in the company.

The occupational safety and health department of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment is saddled with the statutory responsibility of safeguarding and promoting the safety, health and wellbeing of workers in all workplaces in Nigeria.

Speaking during the inspection, Onyejiocha, who is in charge of the department of occupational safety and health in the ministry, stated that the ministry could not be reduced to conciliation where it is all about some individuals.

She said: “We are still interested in the welfare of our workers and we are interested in safe workplaces where every worker is growing as the company is growing; where their promotion is not stagnated for any reason; where they would look back and know that they are progressing, which means that everything about their welfare is taken care of.

“This means that we are not going to be calling every time on union issues. We should take out time to see that they are where they are supposed to be.

“We want Nigerian workers working in factories not to lose any time in their promotion schedules. We want them to look as healthy as the managers. The working environment should be made safe. It should not be compromised.”

She further stated that personal protective equipment was life- saving equipment that keeps workers safe because a healthy workforce is a healthy society and ensures productivity.

The minister stated government’s plan to make sure that workers’ productivity level is optimal this year. “Things are changing and the world can’t wait for us. All the other companies are trying to diversify. They are trying to make sure that they are leveraging on the opportunities that are available to make sure that they up their games and increase their production, which in turn will bring prosperity and wealth.”

She noted that the ministry was not just about health issues, but also the mental health of workers, insisting that workers must go on medical checks.

“When you don’t promote them, it comes to their brains. That is why we are seeing issues of suicide, some are doctors, and graduates. Some rescued, while some end up like that.

“So, we need to look inwards and ensure that mental health of workers is taken into consideration. A healthy society will bring a wealthy society.”

The minister also warned that the government would not hesitate to sanction any company in breach of safety regulations and practices: “We will seal the premises. There are also sanctions for any worker who flouts the company’s rules, such as late-coming to work. Such could attract suspension of the worker. Absenteeism, negligence to duty are also not allowed,” the minister stated.

She disclosed that the government was also interested in manufacturers’ compliance with ease of doing business right from their factories, saying that the final report on the inspection would be made digitally available to the company to help them improve, where necessary.

She advised workers to be diligent and ensure they work to enhance productivity in their workplaces in reciprocation of what their employers are doing.

Giving her impression after the factory inspection, she expressed satisfaction, commending their efforts in making their factory safe for workers and ensuring that women’s participation in the production was safe.

“I also commend you that throughout 2024 there were no incidents. That you have been making sure to see that safety is observed, but we want you to do more. I also thank you for noting the gender issue and you are working towards balancing it.

“It is not really balanced, but I believe that work is in progress and we want to see more. We want to see a woman as the MD or chairman of Nestle. It’s long overdue because I know I saved plenty money for Nestle as a woman. That price didn’t come for nothing. I want to encourage you to do your best, look inward to see that workers are carried along because we want to eradicate striking issues. Social dialogue is the in-thing,” she advised.

Director for occupational

safety and health, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Lauretta Adogu, harped on the need for more sensitisation to workers for better compliance, applauding Nestle Plc for ensuring that both workers and employers comply with occupational safety and health for workers in the company.

The health safety and environmental manager of the company, Evelyn Dike, promised to consolidate the government’s efforts in ensuring a safe workplace for Nigerian workers.

She explained the state of safety, and the safety rules guiding the company: “We have the life-saving rules. As long as you follow the safety rules, you are guaranteed to go home as you came,” she said.

Comrade Aloa Abbas, workers’ union chairman, in addition to what the factory safety manager said on occupational safety and health, added that they have a policy called employee assistance programme specifically for mental awareness to take care of the health of the workers.

“If a worker is feeling anything, or probably disturbed, we have a line that you can call anonimously. Nobody will restrict you to discuss with you. Or, you can go to the doctor or factory manager to discuss. We also do medical checkup twice a year.

“We equally have hospitals that we can visit with our families. We had a salary review consecutively for three years. We collaborate well with Nestle. They give us adequate training to improve our productivity,” Abbas said.