TUC tasks employers, unions on safety, health mgt

Trade UnionCongress of Nigeria (TUC) has called on employers of labour and trade unions to work together to ensure that occupational safety and health is an integral part of the day-to-day business of every organisation.The Chairman of TUC in Rivers State, Comrade Chika Onuegbu, gave the advice while speaking with labour correspondents on occupational hazard being faced daily by workers in the country.He warned that the indirect costs arising from occupational accidents and diseases to the employer were serious that it will not be in the interest of the employer for an employee to get hurt at work or ill through work.Comrade Onuegbu believes that prevention is better than compensation for industrial accidents and appealed to trade union leaders to ensure that health; safety and security of their members are adequately addressed and given priority attention in the collective bargaining agreements in the day-to-day activities of the organisation.He said: 'Irrespective of the positive comments about any law seeking to compensate employees who suffer from occupational diseases or sustain injuries arising from accident at the workplace or in the course of employment, the primary focus of any organisation should be to provide a safe and healthy environment for the workers to fulfil their obligations.'Comrade Onuegbu emphasised that the issue of compensation, as a second best choice, should not be the primary focus but a fallback position, when things go wrong.He said: 'This is because when a worker leaves his residence to work for the upkeep of his family and contribute to the economy of his society and nation, he does so with a belief that he will come back to the warm embrace of his family at least the way he was when he
Click here to read full news..