South Africa Launches National Occupational Health and Safety Strategy to Combat Workplace Injuries and Diseases (DEL), in collaboration with the Compensation Fund (CF), Federated Employers Mutual (FEM) Assurance, and Rand Mutual Assurance (RMA), officially launched the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Prevention Accord and unveiled the OHS Strategy for 2024–2029. The event, held at Emperor’s Palace in Gauteng, was attended by over 300 delegates, including government officials, industry leaders, labour unions, and OHS professionals.
Themed “Strategic Collaboration to Prevent Incidents and Occupational Diseases in the Workplace,” the initiative underscores a unified approach to reducing workplace injuries and illnesses through enhanced collaboration among stakeholders. The Accord and Strategy aim to support South Africa’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the National Development Plan (NDP), which prioritise decent work and safe working conditions .
Key Highlights:
Collaborative Effort: The launch brought together representatives from organised business, organised labour, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), the National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH), and various professional bodies in occupational hygiene, ergonomics, and safety.
Commitment to Prevention: The Accord was signed by key stakeholders, including organised business, organised labour, CF, FEM, and RMA, committing to promoting the prevention of incidents and occupational diseases in the workplace .
Focus on Vulnerable Workers: The Strategy emphasizes the need for inclusive and equitable safety measures, with special attention given to workers in vulnerable situations, such as those in the informal economy, migrant workers, workers with disabilities, women, and child labourers .
Support for Decent Work: The DEL’s Inspection and Enforcement Services Branch supports the Department’s efforts in achieving decent work, as central to workers’ rights, through systematic approaches to occupational health and safety .
