There is a poor occupational safety at the construction sites in Eastern Dzongkhags, according to the records maintained by the Regional Labour and Employment Office in Trashigang.
Many contractors and labourers have been penalised for not complying with the Labour Act .
The Regional Labour and Employment office in Trashigang have fined 13 contractors for not providing safety gears to their labourers. About 24 labourers have been fined for not wearing safety gears provided by the contractors from November last year till date.
During a routine inspection in Kanglung yesterday, a contractor was fined Nu. 9,000. Another contractor was given a memo to improve the labourer’s safety standards.
According to the Labour Act, contractors are required to hand out safety gears such as helmets, boots, goggles, gloves and safety belts to the labours. It is mandatory for all the labourers to wear safety gears while working.
The Acting Regional Director of Employment and Labour Office in Trashigang, Sonam Dendup, said wearing safety gears will prevent mishaps.
A few labourers BBS spoke to said it is difficult to work without the safety gears. “I won’t have to worry about falling down and hurting my head every time,” said one of the labourers, Basha Archa. Others said the gears they have, have worn out long time back. “Our employers are yet to replace them,” said Manil Arzo, a labourer. Some said they are yet to get the safety gears.
According to Kanglung’s Basic health Unit, 149 work related injuries were recorded between January and October last year.
