DAR ES SALAAM: MINISTER of State, Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disability), Deogratius Ndejembi, has challenged the Occupational Safety and Health Authority (OSHA) to invest more in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in a bid to improve service delivery.
The minister also directed the authority to make more efforts in creating awareness among the stakeholders over safety and health at workplaces to increase compliance on the law and guide – lines.
Mr Ndejembi made the statement on Tuesday in Dar es Salaam when he visited the OSHA’s headquarters to familiarize with the authority’s duties. The authority is among institutions under his docket. His tour came just one month after President Samia Suluhu Hassan appointed him to the post.
During his visit, he had the opportunity to hold talks with the management and staff of the OSHA regarding different matters concerning strengthening safety and health at workplaces. Among its activities, the authority conducts regular inspections of workplaces, including industries where workers may be exposed to risks such as accidents and diseases.
“I have just come to learn about your operations and performance since it is an institution under the ministry which I lead so that together we can push the national development forward,” he told the management and staff.
Meanwhile, he used the opportunity to witness the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the OSHA and the Tanzania Union of Government and Health Employees (TUGHE).
The agreement is meant to strengthen cooperation between the two parties in the provision of awareness education over safety and health among the members of TUGHE. OSHA Chief Executive Officer, Ms Khadija Mwenda promised the minister that the authority will effectively implement its responsibilities.
“We thank the Minister for visiting us. We took him through OSHA’s responsibilities and he shared with us his vision regarding issues at workplaces,” Ms Mwenda stated.
Commenting, TUGHE’s Secretary General, Hery Mkunda pointed out that the agreement will ensure that workers get their rights and are protected against risks at workplaces.