Membathisi Mdladlana
31 October 2006
Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has urged organised business, labour
and civil society to work with government in reducing the high number of
workplace accidents.
Minister Mdladlana was addressing delegates at the Conference on
Occupational Health and Safety in Boksburg today (Tuesday). "It is important
that our strategies to lower workplace accidents converge. We must improve
efforts to save human lives," he said.
The two-day conference, which ends tomorrow, is being held under the theme
Working Together towards Improving Occupational Health and Safety in High-risk
Areas of Economy. Construction, mining, transport, chemical and agriculture
sectors were identified as being amongst the most lethal in the economy.
Speaking at the same conference, outgoing Compensation Fund acting
commissioner Phineas Mothiba said that over 1,2 million claims were lodged with
the Fund between 2000 and 2005. Of these, 164 614 were compensation awards in
respect of temporary total disablement, 27 210 in respect of permanent
disablement, while 3 665 pension awards were related to permanent disablement
and fatal claims.
"The claims expenditure for the financial years 2004-5 and 2005-6 amounted
to R3,8 billion," he said. The conference has brought together delegates from
organised labour, business and the civil society.
Enquiries:
Mokgadi Pela
Cell: 082 808 2168
Issued by: Department of Labour
31 October 2006
