Focus on safety and health too

WHILE welcoming the new leadership at the Human Resources Ministry, I urge the new minister, Steven Sim, and his deputy Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad to prioritise worker safety and health in its entirety.

This includes not only physical safety at work but also the often overlooked aspects of work-related commuting safety and mental well-being.

While Sim’s stated priorities of skill development and worker welfare are commendable, I am concerned that his focus on economic restructuring may overshadow the critical issue of comprehensive employee well-being.

The Occupational Safety and Health Amendment Act 2022 (gazetted in March 2022) is yet to be enforced. This delay raises serious concerns about the ministry’s commitment to protecting workers from preventable accidents, injuries and stress-related issues.

My interactions with stakeholders, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), reveal a “wait-and-see” approach regarding safety compliance.

Sim’s experience in the Finance Ministry may make him prioritise economic growth, but I urge him to remember that behind every workplace accident or health-related absence lies a human story. Each life lost, each injury sustained, and each mental health issue experienced represents a family impacted, a future altered, and a potential for economic loss.

The cost of prioritising safety and mental well-being extends far beyond financial compensation; it’s about protecting the lives, livelihoods and overall well-being of the rakyat.

The ministry must go beyond mere pronouncements and implement proactive measures to promote safety and health in all aspects of work life.

This includes actively working with safety and mental health NGOs, fostering open communication with industry players and workers’ representatives, and regularly engaging with workers to understand their needs and concerns pertaining to safety, commuting and mental well-being.

The ministry must also mandate organisations to adopt comprehensive safety and mental health management systems, invest in safety training and mental health resources and create a culture where safety and health is everyone’s responsibility.

More importantly, the ministry must ensure swift and effective implementation of the relevant regulations, including the amended OSHA 2022.

Raising public awareness about workplace safety, commuting safety and mental health risks across all industries and demographics is also crucial. The ministry should launch targeted campaigns to educate and empower workers, employers and the general public about the importance of comprehensive well-being in the workplace.

Specifically, the ministry should collaborate with transport authorities and employers to develop and implement safe and reliable commuting options for workers, address public transport challenges and promote safe driving practices.

The new leadership at the Human Resources Ministry has a golden opportunity to make a lasting positive impact on the lives of workers and ensure that everyone returns home safe, healthy and happy every day.

CHIN YEW SIN

Shah Alam