NA businesses blasted for working conditions

Feb 15, 2018 News

The appalling conditions in one of the washroom areas of a commercial establishment that was inspected.

A high level team from the Ministry of Social Protection – Department of Labour, led by Minister within the Ministry, Keith Scott, recently conducted a strategic inspection in the New Amsterdam commercial district.
During the inspection, a number of Occupational, Safety and Health (OSH) violations were discovered.
Present on the exercise were the Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle, the Assistant Chief Labour Officer (acting), Mrs. Karen VanSluytman–Corbin and other officers from the regional office in New Amsterdam.
Minister Scott explained that the exercise was a routine one for the department and is extremely important, since it ensures that what obtains on the ground is within the law and in the best interest of both employer and employee.
The inspection found unfavourable working conditions in one establishment which posed “a serious danger, hazard and peril to safety and health of employees”.
“The environment was characterized as exceedingly humid, void of proper lighting, ventilation and was without a first aid kit, drinking water and sanitary bins for females. It is unbelievable that in a municipal environment, stagnant water could be found in a building, including the washroom area – where there was limited privacy due to rotting doors with holes. There were also large clusters of cobweb and dust mirroring that of a condemned facility.”
Breaches of the established OSH regulations were also observed in other commercial premises.
“The Ministry of Social Protection would like to remind employers that according to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, Chapter 46:1,an employer has the responsibility to take every precaution necessary for the protection of workers’ health safety and wellbeing, while maintaining a safe, sound, healthy and secure working environment.”
“A breach of the law is a breach of the rights of workers, which is most intolerable, unacceptable and reprehensible,” the ministry said.
“The Ministry wishes to emphasize that it will not condone any violation of the rights of workers, and it will continue to intensify its inspection activity on a continual basis.”

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