Call for all stake holders in the working sector to take appropriate actions to help their employees

Tens of thousands of workers and employees from Tanzania will join hands with others world – wide to commemorate the International Labour Day on Thursday this week.

Many workers have been waiting eagerly for the day and will snatch the opportunity to air their grievances and problems facing them in their respective work places.

The functions that take place yearly have done little to ease the working environment for the workers all over the world. Workers have been crying against insufficient and delayed wages, harassment, gender discrimination, poor working conditions, informal employment for so long etc.

The main agenda for this year according to their theme is healthy and safety environment for the workers, calling for corporate accountability for workers health and safety.

Two million workers (including 12,000 child laborers) die each year through work – related accidents and diseases and that is just the tip of iceberg, according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Around the world, unions on behalf of the workers have been campaigning, for employers to be made more responsible for workplace injury and illness. They are already the duty – holders who should establish a good working environment: In offices, factories, and mines.

But unfortunately, they have failed time and again to do so, and as a result, unions are demanding around the world that they be held to account for their actions.

The issue of corporate social responsibility is an issue in both the developed and less developed economies. The US is neither immune in this capacity – it has exploded there as an issue where corporate financial failings have been highlighted, and unions have been trying in vain to convey the same message around the world about corporate behavior on health and safety and other issues for decades.

Many trade unions in work places seem to be toothless and are doing less to help improve working environment for their members. The story is the same in the US as in Tanzania.

If doing nothing can put their members in danger, then becoming actively involved in fighting bad working environment and repression in workplaces seal the fate of most union leaders (mostly those who are directly employed by the corporation). In an interview with this correspondent recently, Magu district TALGWU Chairperson Mr. Francis Masenya disclosed how it is difficult for them as direct employees to confront their employer, on matters facing their members for their employment security.

Magu district council being one of 38 districts exercising council reformation programme, has a big number of informal employees-vibarua (whose names have never appeared in the payroll for seven years) in sectors of driving, watchmen, office attendants etc.

Trade unions, employers and the government should use this year’s commemoration day to show their joint agreement to implement their responsibility in building good environment for their workers.

As I have stated earlier, the 2 million lives taken annually by work – related accidents and illnesses cost the global economy an estimated US $ 1250,000 million according to the Labour body. It is the humble duty for the stakeholders to create and promote a health and safety culture in a globalize world.

Fatalities, accidents and illness at work can be prevented. Every one is responsible to promote a health and safety culture in the workplace – wherever work is done – backed by appropriate national policies and programmes to make workplaces safer, healthier and insured for all.

For the informal employees like in the Magu district council, their corporation does not insure their employment. For that long period they are denied employment rights. Thus they are not pensionable in case of illness, accident or retirement. Their future is blank!

According to the ILO report, costs borne by society due in part to work – related accidents and diseases include early retirements caused by disability which on average, shorten working life by about five years; absenteeism that varies from 2 to 10 percent, depending on sector and type of work; unemployment that may stem from impairment of working capacity due to illness and affects an average of one – third of all unemployed people. And poverty at home caused by the partial or full loss of income, especially among women workers.

Let the observance of the May Day this week bring a tripartite focus to the annual event mostly to the employers and unions to reduce the toll of death, injury and sickness at world’s workplaces, with special attention to prevention techniques to prove effective in both occupational accidents, diseases and improve business.

About the Author

freelance journalist, district political party secretary and african cultural advocate.