Labour minister urges employers to prioritise health and safety
He warned employers not to adopt a cavalier attitude towards health and safety in the workplace
Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi has urged employers to continue prioritising the health and safety of workers even though the remaining Covid-19 protocols have been lifted.
Health Minister Joe Phaahla last week lifted the mandatory wearing of masks, removed restrictions on gatherings and the vaccination proof at ports of entry amid low Covid infections and related deaths.
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While Nxesi welcomed the decision, he warned employers not to ‘adopt a cavalier attitude towards health and safety in the workplace’.
‘The health and safety of workers is a priority for our labour market.
‘The Code of Practice on the Management of Exposure to Sars-Cov-2 (the Covid virus) in the Workplace remains the guiding principle on matters of health and safety in the workplace, and it is still the responsibility of all leaders to design an inclusive environment that promotes safety and makes workers comfortable.
‘This code provides a guide to employers and workers as to what are reasonably practicable measures in managing SARS-Cov-2,’ said Nxesi.
Announcing the lifting of protocols, Minister Phaahla also cautioned that the Covid-19 virus ‘is not yet gone’.
‘It is still in our midst, we are just stronger than before, especially with vaccinations, and we urge those not yet vaccinated to come forward, as well as those due for boosters,’ he said.
The vaccination programme will remain, and is now being integrated into normal health services.
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