The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) held a workshop on labour safety in Vung Tau city in southern coastal Ba Ria-Vung Tau province on March 16.

The workshop reviewed the outcomes of the 2011-2015 national programme on improving the health and safety of employees and set tasks for the following 5-year period. The programme aims to reduce occupational accidents and provide improved health services for those working in the mining, construction, electricity, metalwork and chemistry industries.

Workshop participants, including officials, experts and businessmen from Germany, Singapore, the Republic of Korea and regional countries, discussed and shared their own practical experiences related to risk assessment, preventative measures and regular inspections.

The workshop, part of the 17th National Week on Occupational Health and Safety – Fire and Explosion Prevention, was co-hosted by the International Labour Organisation, the International Social Security Association and the ASEAN Occupational Safety and Health Network.

According to the National Steering Committee for Occupational Health and Safety – Fire and Explosion Prevention, there were more than 6,700 occupational accidents which led to 630 deaths and 1,544 injuries with a combined leave amounting to over 81,000 days in 2014.

The same year, the country reported 2,370 fires which claimed 90 lives and injured 143 others, representing an economic loss of over 1.3 trillion VND (62 million USD) and destroying over 1,300 hectares of forestry.-VNA