Gov’t Looking to Table the OSH Bill in Parliament This Fiscal Year

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is looking to table the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Bill in Parliament before the end of the fiscal year.

The Bill is intended to repeal the Factories Act (1943), which is limited in scope and excludes vital industries and groups such as the financial, agricultural and public sectors, shops and offices.

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., who made the disclosure, said: “We are at a stage where we received from the Chief Parliamentary Counsel (CPC) one of our final drafts.

“We are responding to questions that they have raised, with a view to having that redrafted to incorporate the recommendations from the Joint Select Committee… that was reviewing the Bill and to advance it as quickly as possible and back to the Chief Parliamentary Counsel so that they can finalise those drafts,” he said.

The Minister was addressing the virtual staging of the Jamaica Employers’ Federation (JEF) 40th annual Business and Workplace Convention on Thursday (May 16).

Mr. Charles noted that a “significant portion” of Jamaica’s labour force, primarily in the services industry, “don’t… now… enjoy the standards of occupational safety and health protection expected of a country that is developing”.

“That’s just the reality and, in addressing this, the OSH Bill has to be advanced,” he maintained.

Consequently, Mr. Charles said the Ministry’s legal and technical teams are actively reviewing the provisions to ensure that they are fully aligned with the Committee’s instructions.

“I want to just assure you that we are proceeding with this as a priority and [we are] working to ensure that, as quickly as possible, the legislative process will move forward so that you can have a Bill tabled in Parliament,” he stated.

The proposed legislation’s introduction is expected to usher in a new paradigm in workplace safety and health across Jamaica.

The Bill will also set and improve standards for safety and security in the workplace for employees and employers.

Meanwhile, Mr. Charles is encouraging employers to implement the necessary inputs that will safeguard the well-being of their workers.

“Every worker in Jamaica deserves that respect. We need to work together to make sure we are creating that environment,” he said, adding that this will also redound to the benefit of employers in terms of output.

Mr. Charles cited soaring atmospheric temperatures globally, which he contended gives rise to the need to consider the potential impact on workers engaged in outdoors and those who could be exposed to extreme heat indoors.

“We hope that… if they are in those conditions… you will… [try] to protect them as best as possible,” he added.

The two-day conference is being held under the theme ‘Business Transformation: Sharing Strategies For Success’.

The JEF was established in 1958 with the purpose of representing and safeguarding the interest of employers in their relationship with government and organised labour.

Its mission is to lead the development of an enabling business environment through effective representation and the provision of value-added services that strengthen the ability of employers to optimise competitiveness and workplace harmony.