Health and Safety
Employer Cares
In accordance with the Labour Proclamation, every employee has the right to enjoy suitable measures of protection and safety & hygiene at work as the employer is required to take all necessary measures to safeguard the health & safety of workers. It is considered unlawful for an employer to require a worker to execute work, which is hazardous to his life.
Employer must take appropriate measures to ensure that workers are properly instructed and notified about the risks and imminent danger related to their respective occupations and precautions necessary to avoid accidents and injury to health.
Medical examination of newly employed workers and those engaged in hazardous work, at employer's expense, is necessary. Measures should be taken to ensure that the processes of work are not a source or cause of physical, chemical, biological, ergonomical and psychological hazards to the health and safety of the workers.
It is obligatory for an employer to establish occupational safety and health committee in the establishment according to the directive issued by the Minister. Employment accidents and occupational diseases must get registered and notified to the labour inspector. To keep workplace and its premises free from hazards related to health and safety of worker, employer must implement the directives issued by the appropriate authority in accordance with this proclamation.
Workers must also obey all health and safety instructions issued by the employer or by the competent authority and co-operate in the formulation of work rules to safeguard his health and safety, and to implement them.
Workers are prohibited from interfering, removing, displacing, damaging or destroying any safety devices or other appliances furnished for workers’ protection. Further, workers are prohibited from obstructing any method or process adopted with a view to minimizing the occupational hazard.
Source: §14(1e) & 92-93 of the Labour Proclamation No. 1156/2019
Free Protection
Labour Proclamation requires employers to provide protective equipment, appropriate work clothing and other materials to the workers in order to prevent the risk of accidents or detrimental effects on the health of workers.
Source: § 92(3) of the Labour Proclamation No. 1156/2019
Training
Employers are required to ensure that workers are properly instructed and informed about different hazards present at the workplace as well precautions necessary to avoid accident and injury to health. Employer must also instruct workers about the proper use of protective equipments.
Source: §92(2) of the Labour Proclamation No. 1156/2019
Labour Inspection System
Labour Proclamation provides for the vibrant Labour Inspection services however the current system is not in line with the requirements of ILO Convention 081. There are nearly 380 labour inspectors in the country but due to lack of resources, labour inspectors may not enforce standards effectively.
The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Environment Department (OSHWED) of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA) is responsible for labour inspection. The Labour Proclamation 377/2003, provides for the establishment of a Tripartite Labour Advisory Board for studying and examining matters concerning employment service, working conditions, the safety and health of workers, labour laws in general and giving advisory opinion to the Minister.
The labour inspectors are authorized by the Minister to carry out the responsibilities of follow-up and supervision of the inspection service. The national legislation provides inspectors the power to enter the work premises during working hours without prior notice; take measurements, photographs, samples and make recordings for the purpose of examination and investigation; examine, copy or extract registers, documents, certificates and notices; interview any one; and ensure that relevant notices are affixed at the appropriate place of work.
The Labour Inspector informs and advises employers and workers concerning the most effective means of complying with the legal provisions and to correct the conditions that constitute a threat to the health, safety or welfare of workers. Upon failure to comply with these instructions within given time period, the inspector issues an order to alter the existing conditions necessary to remove the threat or take measures necessary to prevent imminent danger to the health and safety of workers. Inspector must not disclose any information obtained during the course of his/her duty and refrain from involvement in labour disputes and collective bargaining as a conciliator or an arbitrator.
The employer or his representatives must also facilitate the inspector and should not cause obstruction in the execution of his/her duties.
Source: §177-182 of the Labour Proclamation No. 1156/2019
Regulations on Health and Safety
- የአሰሪና ሰራተኛ አዋጅ ቁ. 1156/2011 / Labour Proclamation No. 1156/2019
