Saturday,
28 April 2012 is the world day for “Safety and Health at Work’’. The annual event anchored by the
International Labour Organization (ILO) has this years’ theme as “Promoting
Safety and Health in a Green Economy”. This
theme is coming in these times when according to the ILO, ‘’there is a shift in the world to a greener and more sustainable economy’’. Sustainability as we know, dwells on
(among other components), social development and environmental protection and
in the thinking of the ILO, these should be closely linked to safer and
healthier workplaces and decent work for all.
The Green Jobs initiative is a joint initiative of the
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the International Labour
Organization (ILO), the International Organization of Employers (IOE) and the
International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
In the UNEP Green Jobs report of
September 2008, the initiative defines green jobs as ‘’decent work which
contributes directly to reducing the environmental impact of enterprises,
economic sectors or the economy as a whole by reducing energy and resource
consumption, reducing emissions, waste and pollution and by preserving or
restoring ecosystems’’. The document
further states that ‘’Green Jobs need to be decent work; i.e. good jobs which
offer adequate wages, safe working conditions, job security, reasonable career
prospects, and worker rights’’.
In its paper published to support this years’
observation, the ILO SafeWork office documents that the notion of ‘’Green
Jobs’’ as only those jobs involved in the protection of biodiversity and the
environment has been broadened to include the creation of jobs contributing to
resource efficiency...... as well as occupations which play central role in
‘’greening’’ industries across the economy’’.
Continuing, the paper notes that ‘’Green Jobs include new job
opportunities across a wide spectrum of occupations, from managers and
scientists to technicians and farmers, and for a wide range of job seekers in
rural and urban populations, including slum dwellers’’. The paper also documents that ‘’the main
areas of economic activity that have the best potential for generating new
green jobs are: renewable energy, construction, transport, recycling, forestry
and agriculture’’.
What has caught my attention here and which agitates me is
the whole idea of ‘’Green Economy’’, ‘’Green Jobs’’ and ‘’ Decent Work’’. In order words, the evolution of green
economies (the current focus), will generate associated green jobs – jobs that
protects/preserves not only the environment (which is paramount anyway), but
assures good or decent life and safety for the people, the workforce. Come to think of it, the people need to be
safe (alive) and healthy (strong and virile over long years) in order to
continue to man, drive and sustain the production processes that assures an
even greener economy.
Nigeria’s ‘’Vision 20-2020’’, foresees a robust economy, in the league of the top 20
in the world by the year 2020. This will
suppose a green economy, in line with the focus of the world. I believe this is achievable. We have the strategy document, we have the
people – so I believe – we only need to get working. My concern on this day and at this time is
the need to begin to give serious thought to the ‘’Green Jobs’’ paradigm as we
match towards ‘’Vision 20-2020’’. In
saying this, I am thinking of all sectors of the economy and owners of
enterprises – oil and gas, banks/financial institutions, manufacturing, telecommunications,
waste management, construction, transportation (land, air and sea), government
parastatals, etc.
From one
sector to another, one office or work area/site to another, lots of Nigerians
work in environments and under work conditions that can be said to be far from
‘’Decent’’, the type envisaged/articulated by the Green Works Initiative. Aside from the oil and gas industry, where
the safety and health of staff and personnel have in most cases been elevated
to another level and used as one of the indices for measuring overall business performance/success,
the same may not wholly be said of other sectors. In greater instances, it is considered a
great favour that you have a job in the midst of huge unemployed, poor and
hungry people. You are therefore
expected to focus on working anyhow instead of complaining on issues regarding
your safety and health.
One area
of deep concern is the waste management sector, where both government and
private organizations are involved. This sector is huge, connecting activities
and end processes in almost all other sectors.
While this sector is identified as one of the fastest sources of green
employment, it cannot be lost on us that the practices that are associated with
this sector and most importantly the conditions under which young Nigerians do
the jobs portends greater harm to the people and ultimately the economy as well
as the society. One is aware of the
existence of waste management laws in Nigeria dealing with not just appropriate
handling, but minimum safety and health provisions for the workforce. Where then is the enforcement?
Waste Collection & Disposal Operation
in Nigeria:
a ‘’green’’ activity, but how green is this
job for these folks. They are
exposed to diseases/infections and possible death from falling off these
truck.
Many sad
cases also abound in the labour intensive manufacturing industries, owned and
run by certain Asians where Nigerians are subjected to very unsafe conditions
in their own country. Such companies
operate in complete disregard for any know health and safety or labour laws of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria (and these laws/regulations abound). Lots of our young people, potential gurus of
tomorrow have either been maimed or lost their lives in such blatantly unsafe work
conditions and the owners/operators of such factories have gotten away with
such avoidable deaths.
The
construction sector, involving working at heights is one that has also maimed
lots of our young people. The oil and
gas industry regards work at heights (any work from 2 meters above ground) as
one major exposure/high risk jobs and takes extra precautions prior to
authorizing such jobs to proceed, even though their direct staff are not
involved – it is called duty of care for contractor personnel. Sadly, this is
not so with the other sectors, where organizations care little about how their
jobs ate accomplished. Again, I am
certain that laws and regulations exist for the building/construction industry
dealing with minimum safety and health provisions for various construction
works. Again, where is the enforcement?
An Artisan In Construction Work:
With little or no consideration for his safety & health, this fellow is in danger of sudden fall from height with potential for instant death or permanent disability
The transportation sector is arguably the worst
killer. Here, dreams/hope of tomorrow –
future anchors of Vision 2020 - have been cut short, virile manpower maimed or
lost and rendered liabilities to the economy and society; and these could have
been avoided. The tragedies from this
sector have been due largely to the multitude of workers (drivers) with little
or no instructions on the basics of this sector/their jobs; yet these ones
bandy around licenses of all sorts, given by recognized authorities in the
country. These hordes constitute threats
to not only their unfortunate passengers, but other decent road users.
Green
Jobs, Decent Jobs/Work, assures the preservation of a virile workforce over
long periods of time. It assures that we
do not lose our best brains and hands before they have come of age and maturity
to be at the helm of the production processes where they will bring to bear
experiences garnered over the years growing through the ranks. It is a backbone to a greener and bigger
economy by year 2020.
The theme
of this year’s celebration can and should be a wake-up call for all of us;
employees, employers and most importantly our government – the safety and
health regulatory arms. We owe it a duty
to this country to realize ‘’Vision 20-2020’’ or at least be able to count our
good progress by the end of 2020. But
first, the workforce of tomorrow must be preserved through appropriate safety
and health practices.
Have a
very SAFE Day and do all in your power to remain safe and healthy each day.
