The Department of Employment and Labour is set to host a three-day Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Conference in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal from 07-09 November 2023.
As South Africa is moving toward achieving the National Development Plan (NDP) outcomes 2 (long and healthy life for South Africans) and 4 (decent employment through inclusive economic growth), Aspiration One of the African Union Agenda 2063 as well as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 (good health and wellbeing) and 8 ( decent work and economic growth), the Department of Employment and Labour has to respond and provide a platform for stakeholder engagement and sharing of best practice.
To support the Department’s response, the Inspections and Enforcement Services Branch has four strategic pillars which are capacity strengthening and development; advocacy, inspection, and enforcement. In addition, the OHS strategy responds to these strategic pillars through five strategic results areas which are coherent and effective legislation and policy; advocacy, communication, cooperation, capacity strengthening and development; labour inspection and enforcement; OHS management system and preventive risk management at enterprises as well as strategic information (proactive research and data collection).
The objectives of this conference, under the theme - “Collaboration and Strategic Approach to enhance decent work in an evolving world of work” - are:
(a) To share good practices and experiences amongst stakeholders in order to implement preventative measures.
(b) To explore areas for OHS technical cooperation (across boundaries) among the different stakeholders including the informal economy.
As OHS has been included as the 5 th principle in the ILO’s fundamental rights and principles at work, it necessitates the Department to respond to this aspect and inform stakeholders as South Africa has to ensure that this right is inculcated in workplaces.
This requires a systematic approach and a commitment from all role players and thus ensures continual improvement. In addition, this requires responsive policies that have to be implemented and enforced by the inspectorate through collaboration and strategic cooperation. Through this, the Department can realise the vision of decent work.
Cognizant of this, the department will be hosting an Occupational Health and Safety conference with the ultimate aim of bringing together great minds that will share experiences and solutions to the OHS challenges facing the evolving world of work.
The rationale and objectives are to achieve sustained continuous improvements in OHS, there is a need to take a long-term approach through collaboration and strategic partnerships.
Media is invited to attend and cover the conference scheduled to take place as follows:
Dates: 7 to 9 November 2023
Time: 8h00 to 17h00
Venue: Coastlands on the Ridge, 315 – 319 Peter Mokaba Ridge, Musgrave, Durban in KZN, South Africa.
RSVP: Siyabulela Dzanibe at Siyabulela.Dzanibe@labour.gov.za/ 066 115 9415
Media enquiries:
Teboho Thejane
Cell: 082 697 0694
E-mail: Teboho.Thejane@labour.gov.za
