Noting that workplace deaths have been decreasing over the years, Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton said the safety of workers should not and will not be “downplayed” by the government.
As of April this year, a total of five workplace deaths were reported.
According to Hamilton, when the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) took office in 2020, a total of 32 deaths were recorded for that year.
That number, Hamilton, said decreased to 27 in 2021 and 21 in 2022.
Most of these persons are between the ages of 18 and 50 – the “prime” working age, Hamilton said.
“So when you look at the evidence, it suggest that we have to continue to do what we are doing and more to ensure that we can save lives,” Hamilton noted.
He was at the time speaking on the ministry’s weekly ‘Labour and You’ which was broadcast on their Facebook page on Tuesday.
According to Hamilton, the protection of workers and safety of their lives is a “big” issue.
“We cannot downplay it. I will not,” he said.
He said it is evident that the ministry’s engagements with businesses and other stakeholders over the years to address this issue have borne fruits.
“A death is not a statistic for me and for the government because that is a person’s husband, brother, son or daughter…” Hamilton said.
“It is not a statistic to say this is the number and that’s the end of it…We have to know the importance,” he added.
Hamilton said the government remains committed to promoting safety of all workers. Among the risks employees are exposed to in the workplace range from biological, chemical and physical hazards, to psychosocial and economic hazards.
