Workshop for developing national policy on OSH in agriculture

Agriculture is an important economic sector of Vietnam using 67% of workforce, but it is one of the highest hazardous industries. Its’ working conditions depend very much on the natural weather. In addition, agricultural workers’ awareness of OSH is very limited while they have exposed more and more hazardous and dangerous factors such as agro-chemical, electricity and unsafe machines and equipments. Agriculture workers’ approach to mass media as well as information on OSH is limited. Consequently, occupational accidents and risks in agriculture is on the alert with many severe cases.

In order to prevent and control occupational accidents and risks in agriculture, in recently, MOLISA in cooperation with related agencies had implemented series of necessary activities to promote OSH in agriculture, among which was the workshop for developing the national policy on OSH in agriculture.

In the opening speech of the workshop, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Lieu, Vice Minister of MOLISA emphasized that Vietnam had set up policies and framework and network of inspectors on OSH in industrial sectors, but these have not been adequate in agricultural sector. Living standard has been improved much better than before, so it has facilitated Vietnam to expand OSH to agricultural sector.

In the workshop, participants came to a consensus that it was extremely necessary and should not be delayed anymore to promulgate legal documents on OSH in agriculture, especially while Vietnam is conducting industrialization and modernization in agriculture and rural areas. Laws and regulations for controlling safety of machines and equipments and the use of agro-chemical in agriculture should be issued. To avoid overlap with other legal documents, it is necessary to refer to issued legal documents related to pesticides or electricity. Some participants commented that some regulations should be reviewed and removed to ensure the enforcement of legislation.

Being aware of the importance of OSH in agriculture, MOLISA has put the work for drafting the instruction on OSH in agriculture to submit to the Government for approval into its workplan of 2004.

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