National seminar on health care protection for workers in integration process
Saturday,
02/12/2023,
09:18(GMT +7)
A national seminar on healthcare protection for workers during the integration process was held in Hanoi on July 22, 2009 by the Vietnam General Federation of Labour (VGCL) and the National Institute of Labour Protection (NILP).
The seminar was attended by VGCL Chairman Dang Ngoc Tung, Head of the Safety and Health Department of the Republic of Korea Jeong Je, and representatives from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment and nearly 200 scientists, managers and trade unions involved in occupational safety and health throughout the country.
Apart from its noteworthy achievements in socio-economic development, Vietnam is facing great challenges in dealing with contradictions in terms of economic growth, occupational safety and health and environmental protection. Vietnam’s industrial production is still bearing the stamp of a backward industry in technology and equipment.
Vietnam now has roughly 200,000 businesses with more than 10 million industrial workers. The rapid growth in the number of businesses and production sectors with out-of-date technologies, cramped workshop and non feasible businesses has brought forward many complex issues that incur workplace accidents and make workers prone to occupational diseases.
In the context of the global economic downturn, to vie for market share at low prices, some businesses have used poor materials and fuels and out-of-date technologies, thus making working environments for workers more dangerous.
In the last five years (2004-2008), as many as 27,744 workplace accidents were reported, injuring 28,822 and killing 3,172 people, and 2008 hit a record high of 508 deaths. Death-related workplace accidents are mostly in construction, accounting for 12-19.4 percent, electricity (14 percent-15.2 percent) and mining (4 percent-8.3 percent). The annual average losses causing by workplace accidents are estimated at between VND17-21 billion. The total loss in the last five years was VND251.19 billion and nearly 1 million working days. Around 30 percent of workers get diseases relating to their respiratory organs, eyes, muscles, bones, joints, ears, and cardiovascular problems. By the end of 2008, 24,175 workers were confirmed with occupational diseases, accounting for 23.37 percent of all examined workers. The highest numbers of infections were pneumoconiosis, from working in a polluted working environment.
According to associate Professor Dr. Le Van Trinh, member of the Presidium of the VGCL and Head of the NILP, the causes of most workplace accidents are due to violations of regulations on safety, a lack of safe working measures and unsafe machinery and equipment. In addition, workers are not fully trained in occupational safety and health.
The Ministry of Health’s statistics show that under the Labour Code, employers must provide medical check-ups for employees at least once a year and twice for those with heavy, hazardous and dangerous work. However, the number of workers undergoing medical check-ups only averages between 8-12 percent every year.
In reality, participants at the seminar worked out a number of solutions which have been applied effectively in many establishments. They agreed to improve the application of the most advanced technologies into production, and working conditions and reinforce the legality of labour protection through the State’s management. They also underlined the need to encourage people to abide the labour protection laws, research and implement solutions for occupational safety and health and environmental protection. It is essential to build a contingent of qualified experts who are able to teach and provide training on occupational safety and health. It is also imperative to supervise and give periodical guidance for industries prone to environmental pollution and duly punish enterprises that cause environmental pollution.
As well as the seminar, an exhibition on occupational safety and health was held, which drew the participation of the RoK’s safety industry.
The seminar was a great success, providing an opportunity for delegates to share their experience and learn how to protect workers during the integration process
Apart from its noteworthy achievements in socio-economic development, Vietnam is facing great challenges in dealing with contradictions in terms of economic growth, occupational safety and health and environmental protection. Vietnam’s industrial production is still bearing the stamp of a backward industry in technology and equipment.
Vietnam now has roughly 200,000 businesses with more than 10 million industrial workers. The rapid growth in the number of businesses and production sectors with out-of-date technologies, cramped workshop and non feasible businesses has brought forward many complex issues that incur workplace accidents and make workers prone to occupational diseases.
In the context of the global economic downturn, to vie for market share at low prices, some businesses have used poor materials and fuels and out-of-date technologies, thus making working environments for workers more dangerous.
In the last five years (2004-2008), as many as 27,744 workplace accidents were reported, injuring 28,822 and killing 3,172 people, and 2008 hit a record high of 508 deaths. Death-related workplace accidents are mostly in construction, accounting for 12-19.4 percent, electricity (14 percent-15.2 percent) and mining (4 percent-8.3 percent). The annual average losses causing by workplace accidents are estimated at between VND17-21 billion. The total loss in the last five years was VND251.19 billion and nearly 1 million working days. Around 30 percent of workers get diseases relating to their respiratory organs, eyes, muscles, bones, joints, ears, and cardiovascular problems. By the end of 2008, 24,175 workers were confirmed with occupational diseases, accounting for 23.37 percent of all examined workers. The highest numbers of infections were pneumoconiosis, from working in a polluted working environment.
According to associate Professor Dr. Le Van Trinh, member of the Presidium of the VGCL and Head of the NILP, the causes of most workplace accidents are due to violations of regulations on safety, a lack of safe working measures and unsafe machinery and equipment. In addition, workers are not fully trained in occupational safety and health.
The Ministry of Health’s statistics show that under the Labour Code, employers must provide medical check-ups for employees at least once a year and twice for those with heavy, hazardous and dangerous work. However, the number of workers undergoing medical check-ups only averages between 8-12 percent every year.
In reality, participants at the seminar worked out a number of solutions which have been applied effectively in many establishments. They agreed to improve the application of the most advanced technologies into production, and working conditions and reinforce the legality of labour protection through the State’s management. They also underlined the need to encourage people to abide the labour protection laws, research and implement solutions for occupational safety and health and environmental protection. It is essential to build a contingent of qualified experts who are able to teach and provide training on occupational safety and health. It is also imperative to supervise and give periodical guidance for industries prone to environmental pollution and duly punish enterprises that cause environmental pollution.
As well as the seminar, an exhibition on occupational safety and health was held, which drew the participation of the RoK’s safety industry.
The seminar was a great success, providing an opportunity for delegates to share their experience and learn how to protect workers during the integration process
(Source: TTĐ)
