Illustrative photo (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Japan International CooperationAgency (JICA) takes occupational safety seriously as part of projects sourcedfrom Japan’s official development assistance, stated Fujita Yasuo, ChiefRepresentative of JICA Vietnam Office.
He made the point at a labour safety conference,co-organised by JICA and the Ministry of Construction in Hanoi on May 25. Theconference aimed to disseminate labour policies and regulations for individualsand organisations operating in the construction sector.
JICA has issued a number of guiding materials on the matter,said Fujita Yasuo, revealing that many of them were updated after the Can Thobridge accident. The bridge collapsed during construction in 2007, killing andinjuring dozens of people.
In 2016, six accidents took place in projects funded by Japan’sODA.
He noted JICA is working to minimise the figure and urgedcontractors to tighten their monitoring of construction equipment and workers.
The Ministry of Construction has received significant assistance from JICA whendrafting new policies for occupational health and safety, Nguyen Minh Ha, headof the State Authority for Construction Quality Inspection, said.
He stressed the remarkable changes in policy makers’ mindsetabout the work, as reflected in the fact that recent policies have focused onprecautions against accidents and ensuring workers’ rights in line with nationallaw and conventions of the InternationalLabour Organisation to which Vietnam is a member.
According to Associate Professor Tran Chung from the Vietnamunion of construction, despite strengthened legal foundation, occupationalaccidents are still on the rise, particularly at construction sites ofhigh-rises.
He recommended intensifying large-scale communicationscampaigns on labour safety.-VNA
VNA
