The dangerous substances are the focus of this years’ campaign organized by the (European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA).
This campaign takes place in the framework of #EUhealthyworkplacesCampaigns organized by EU-OSHA in cooperation with the Member States and the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The aim of this raising awareness campaign is to promote a prevention culture in workplaces across the EU, as well as targeting specific groups of workers.
Opening the launch event, Mr. Luigi Brusa, Head of Cooperation Section in the European Union Office in Kosovo, highlighted the importance of health and safety at work, pointing out that Kosovo legislation framework on occupation and safety at work must be implemented. “Good measures that are foreseen in the legislation in force must be implemented,” said Mr. Brusa. He expressed his happiness with the reforms made in the Labor Inspectorate, including the new appointment of the Acting Chief Labor Inspector.
On the other hand, Kosovo Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, Skender Reçica, noted that all stakeholders must be actively engaged to improve the safety and health of workers. “Kosovo has done concrete actions concerning the high rate of unemployment, including safety and health at work,” said Mr.Reçica. He informed that the new Labor Law has been drafted in full compliance with the EU regulations and, as he said, this new Law will provide additional advantages to occupation and safety at work.
He pointed out the last inspection campaign on construction site Pristina when over 100 construction sites were suspended due to the non-implementation of health and safety measures.
Meanwhile, Acting Chief Labor Inspector Valon Leci, stressed that all can contribute to the implementation of health and safety measures, including trade unions, institutions etc. He stressed that Labor Inspectorate never neglects these issues, noting that the Labor Inspectorate this year is particularly focused on construction and risks prevention measures at the construction sites. He said that the trend of fatal accidents in construction sites has noted a decrease, this year.
This year, as part of the campaign, Kosovo is organizing also its first national Good Practice Award contest. The Call for Application is opened until 20th of September, and the application forms and information are published in the website of the Labour Inspectorate.
Social partners to the Healthy Workplace Campaign are also Kosovo Chamber of Commerce and the Union of Independent Trade Unions of Kosovo.