The commemoration ceremony took place at BICC in Lilongwe on 7th May as Malawi joined the world in promoting the prevention of accidents and diseases at work. The ceremony was held with financial support from the EU-funded Zantchito Skills for Jobs Programme.
Hon. NyaLonje expressed her gratitude to all stakeholders for patronising the event as this is an illustration of the growing appreciation of Occupational Safety and Health in the country. She said this as she invited participants into a march around the city centre before the actual commemoration at BICC.
In her official remarks, NyaLonje said that her Ministry is striving to ensure that “all workers in all forms of economic activity, including the formal and informal sectors, are protected and that their lives are safeguarded while at work.”
“Because of the breadth of issues that need to be addressed under occupational safety and health, my ministry, in consultation with all stakeholders, is developing a National Occupational Safety and Health Policy which will include specific strategies targeting the impacts of climate change on the world of work.” Said NyaLonje.
This year’s commemoration of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work brought together various companies, international and local organisations, and other stakeholders in a joint campaign to promote Occupational Safety and Health by exploring measures aimed at combating the impacts of climate change at the workplace. Nearly 300 people participated in the march and a total of eleven companies and organisations exhibited their works in Occupational Safety and Health in a changing climate.
The EU ambassador to Malawi Rune Skinnebach implored the Government of Malawi, development partners, employers, captains of industry, and other stakeholders to invest in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.
“Combating the impacts of climate change requires collective effort amongst stakeholders to forge strategic synergies on this highly noble endeavour.” Stated Skinnebach.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) started to observe the World Day for Safety and Health at Work in 2003, in order to stress the prevention of accidents and diseases at work, capitalizing on the ILO’s traditional strengths of tripartism and social dialogue. Since then, the world commemorates this day on the 28th of April each year, in Malawi the day was celebrated on the 7th May 2024.
