Every year, about a hundred workers suffer injuries due to workplace accidents, and most of them go unreported. This is mainly due to lack of proper Occupational Health and Safety, OHS measures at many workplaces. In an effort to address this issue, the Department of Labour has launched a National Occupational Health and Safety Strategy 2025-2035, aiming to achieve 90 per cent compliance with OHS standards within the next decade.
Last year, the Department of Labour received 136 complaints related to OHS issues and four deaths.
Besides injuries and deaths, the department said the workers are at risk of getting exposed to harmful chemicals, radiation, and toxic agents, and psychological health concerns.
These risks persist due to weak enforcement of regulations, inconsistent laws, low safety prioritisation, and a lack of awareness on OHS.
The Strategy will create a proactive, risk-based and inclusive OHS system equipped to address the current and emerging challenges. It includes building a culture of compliance, enhancing capacity for sustainable OHS practices, strengthening stakeholder engagement and coordination, promoting worker health and wellness, and implementing smart OHS systems.
“The National Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Strategy serves as a complementary framework to existing OHS laws and regulations. It provides clear directives and a roadmap for implementing safety standards effectively. It also sets timelines for achieving specific safety goals, ensuring steady progress in workplace safety. When we have laws and regulations, and when it comes to implementation, particularly in terms of OHS, we have to move step by step,” said Phuntsho Dendup, the Sr. Labour Officer at the Department of Labour, MoICE.
The strategy also aims to reduce workplace accidents by 10 to 15 per cent over the first five years.
The department also launched three training modules, three guidelines for safety officers and supervisors, and a report on chemical assessment.
The development of the strategy was funded by JICA.
Sangay Chozom & Tashi Dekar
Edited by Sangay Chezom
