Roles and Responsibilities of the Government and the Social Partners in Improving Occupational Safety and Health at the Workplace in Egypt

September 28-29 2009

In a successful attempt to strengthen tripartite cooperation and social dialogue in Egypt, a workshop was organized to bring government officials, employees and employers together to discuss current problems in the workplace and ways to overcome them.

“Roles and Responsibilities of the Government and the Social Partners in Improving Occupational Safety and Health at the Workplace in Egypt,” was organized by the ILO and the Ministry of Manpower and Migration on September 28-29, 2009.

Over seventy participants were involved including employers from private and public institutions, workers, government officials and academics. On the first day, participants gathered for sessions of information dissemination and the second day involved interactive group discussions.

Participants recognized the importance of measures such as legislation and law enforcement, and that they should strengthen the process of data collection and analysis on OSH injuries that occur. They also agreed to work on making OSH laws and practices in Egypt meet international standards.

Workers found an opportunity to voice their opinions on problems that they are facing in the workplace. They proposed that legislation should be enforced in order to oblige employers to follow OSH regulations, and that the legislation should be established in coordination with the tripartite parties.

Employers recognized that OSH measures have to be taken by large, medium, and small enterprises. They agreed that special OSH educational curricula should be offered in schools in a simplified way in order to target the younger population. Recommendations went as far as proposing that the government should offer reduction of customs duties and taxes on OSH equipment.

Governmental representatives agreed that the government should upgrade its inspection system, equipment, research, health-care system, social, statistical records, and training centers in the field of OSH.

Academics proposed that Egypt should develop a new OSH system in line with the modern systems in developed countries. They also suggested that OSH officials in factories should have the power to take tough decisions when they feel a threat, and should work towards the path of truthfully and accurately recording the number of accidents/injuries that occur.

Overall, the participants agreed that there was an urgent need for the establishment of national OSH training, education, and information dissemination mechanisms in Egypt. They also stressed on the importance of posting public service announcements on the media in order to raise awareness of the need of OSH in all workplaces. The ILO will work hand-in-hand with the participants to ensure a safer working environment.