World Day for Safety and Health at Work observed

According to the United Nations, many workers are facing more pressure in order to meet up with the demands of modern work life.

This new pressure, usually due to competition, has led to a more stressful work environment.

The World Day for Safety and Health at Work was therefore set aside to promote safe, healthy and decent work.

April 28 has also been associated with the World Trade Union Movement’s commemoration of victims of occupational accidents and diseases.

Statistics indicate that every year, about two million people loss their lives through accidents and diseases linked to work meanwhile 270 million occupational accidents and 160 million occupational diseases occur every year. In Cameroon, about 2400 job related accidents occur yearly.

With this in mind,Cameroon has taken some measures to ensure safety at work. The Minister of Labour and Social Security, Gregoire Owona says accidents at work could be avoided if more care is taken.

He made this statement recently in Douala as he launched a new first aid kit for workers of an enterprise, to ensure the social security of workers.

The Minister emphasised that new labour inspections in the country will consist of reminding enterprises of their obligations to workers meanwhile labour inspectors will carry out frequent checks to ensure the proper treatment of workers.

The National Social Insurance Fund (CNPS) is also organising a forum on the safety of workers this 28th April 2016.