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659164
Tue, 05/09/2023 - 18:09
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International Conference on Occupational Heat Stress Begins
Doha, May 09 (QNA) - The activities of the International Conference on Occupational Heat Stress under the theme "Implementation of Practices, Sharing of Experiences" began today, under the auspices of HE Minister of Labour Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri.
The conference that centers around the effects of heat stress on the workplace. The event will delve into the latest measures, challenges, and opportunities to adopt progressive approaches that can help reduce the impact of heat stress on the work environment. The conference will also align with global and regional trends in addressing this issue.
Representatives of governments, workers and employers from Arab countries will participate in the conference over the course of May 9-10, 2023, in addition to a group of international and regional experts specialized in occupational heat stress prevention strategies from the International Labour Organization and academics from major universities in the United States of America, the European Union, Singapore and Mexico, Greece and South Africa.
"The State of Qatar has undertaken, since 2019, the implementation of the largest study ever on the effects of occupational heat stress in coordination and cooperation with international partners, HE the Minister of Labor said, noting that the study's findings have contributed to the global understanding of occupational heat stress and provided insights into potential solutions. As a result, the study has made recommendations aimed at improving worker protection," he added.
During his speech at the opening session of the conference, HE Dr. Al Marri stressed the State of Qatar's keenness to upgrade heat stress prevention legislation in line with Labour market developments, stressing that the measures implemented by the Ministry of Labour during the last period contributed greatly to curbing the number of injuries resulting from occupational heat stress in recent years.
His Excellency explained that the Ministry increased the period of time during which it is prohibited to work in open places during the summer, as the total prohibited working hours became higher compared to the countries in the region, pointing to the adoption of various practices to ensure the implementation of legislation on the ground, including the promotion of awareness campaigns for employers and workers and inspection of worksites.
He emphasized the Ministry of Labour's ongoing collaboration with both regional and international partners in the national occupational safety and health system. This partnership aims to improve prevention measures and enhance the nation's capacity to monitor heat stress cases. The speaker also emphasized the significance of social dialogue between workers and employers to ensure the effective implementation of new measures and support initiatives aimed at worker protection and the promotion of a secure and healthy work environment.
His Excellency indicated that the world is suffering from the climate change crisis, which affected the entire world, in addition to the challenges related to global warming and its impact on work, pointing to the importance of holding a series of meetings to discuss ways to prevent the impact of high temperatures on the work environment, as it is one of the priorities of the occupational safety and health policy.
He clarified that Qatar leads the way in safeguarding workers from the negative impacts of occupational heat stress. The country was one of the first in the world to implement a comprehensive plan aimed at reducing the detrimental effects of high temperatures on workplace productivity.
His Excellency the Minister commended the International Labour Organization for its effective role in the field of work and workers, stressing that the safety of workers is one of the first priorities of the State of Qatar.
For his part, HE Representative of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the UAE Khalifa Khamis Mattar Al Kaabi, who is also a member of the International Labour Organization Governing Body for West Asian countries, affirmed that employers are firmly committed to the issue of occupational safety and health, pointing to taking appropriate measures to avoid accidents and injuries and protect workers.
"Safeguarding the well-being and safety of workers is not solely a moral or legal responsibility but also an essential requirement for achieving sustainable economic growth within countries. It is also crucial for countries that supply a significant portion of the workforce in other nations", he noted.
"Heat stress in GCC countries and other parts of the Arab region is a priority in the field of safety and health, he added, indicating that protecting workers from extreme temperatures is a complex issue that requires in-depth and continuous scientific research,".
Moreover, he emphasized the importance of collective action from governments, companies, workers, civil society, and youth groups in making significant progress in climate action. The speaker highlighted the necessity of developing practical solutions to prevent and mitigate the adverse effects of occupational heat stress.
International Conference on Occupational Heat Stress Begins -1
General- Qatar
In turn, HE Regional Secretary of the International Transport Workers Federation Bilal Malkawi affirmed that the State of Qatar has taken a key step towards addressing the impact of occupational heat stress by adopting advanced legislation that is considered a model to be followed at the level of countries in the region.
He explained that the appreciates the efforts made by the State of Qatar in the field of protecting workers from the negative effects of heat stress, pointing to the need to adopt a comprehensive approach to occupational safety and health that depends primarily on prevention from the negative effects of different circumstances. He also said that the adoption by the International Labour Conference last June of occupational health and safety as a fifth basic principle and the right to work confirms the importance of the balance of power in the workplace and the representation of workers, which contributes to improving the work environment and preserving Labour rights.
He noted that the State of Qatar has implemented advanced reforms in the work environment, including the abolition of the sponsorship system" Kafala", in addition to many legislations to enhance the protection of workers in coordination with ILO, the International Federation of Trade Unions and many trade union federations, noting the need to make joint efforts between workers, employers and governments with a view to Promoting a culture of safety and health in the workplace.
For her part, Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for the Arab States at the ILO Dr. Ruba Jaradat said that the rise in global temperatures presents challenges that increase the likelihood of occupational illnesses, which could have adverse effects on workers in both the short and long term.
Heat stress causes a decline in worker productivity, as it is estimated that 2% of the total working hours are lost around the world each year, according to ILO, she said, noting that there are expectations of a loss of 3 and 5% of working hours in some Gulf countries by the year 2030 due to heat stress.
She praised ILO’s efforts to raise awareness about the impact of heat stress on workers and support the development of policies and practices that protect workers from this danger, explaining that the organization is working in coordination with the Government of Qatar to develop legislation related to mitigating the effects of heat stress on workers.
International Labour Organization's observance of the World Day for Safety and Health for the year 2023 was distinguished, as it comes after the adoption of the International Labour Conference last June, a safe and healthy work environment, based on the basic principles and rights at work, she said, noting that employers have a responsibility to design plans to mitigate heat stress and implement them in the workplace, in full consultation with workers. There is a need and necessity to train workers to be able to monitor early signs of heat stress, explaining that workers have the right to a safe and healthy work environment, she said.
The conference constitutes a dialogue platform for participants, interested and specialists to share knowledge, expertise and successful experiences in reducing the impact of heat stress, discuss ways to enhance labour protection, and mechanisms to enhance occupational safety and health in the work environment.
The conference, which will be held on May 9-10, will discuss topics related to the Qatari experience, the regulatory mechanisms it has implemented to reduce heat stress and the legislation regulating working hours during the summer period, in addition to reviewing some experiences in the Arab region regarding the reduction and prevention of heat stress.
Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Director of Public Health at the Ministry of Public Health HE Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Thani stressed the State of Qatar's commitment to developing preventative legislation related to heat stress, in addition to raising awareness among different facilities, companies, and workers on its impact.
HE the Minister of Labor honored Asma Bint Abi Bakr Primary School for Girls, and students Al Bandari Mubarak Al Jarboui and Lujain Mustafa Alyan for their efforts in the field of innovation in addressing heat stress.
Stamps issued by the Ministry of Labor in cooperation with the Qatar Postal Services Company "Qatar Post" and in partnership with the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, "Ashghal" and the International Labour Organization, were presented under the title "Safety and Health at Workplace: A Basic Right and a Shared Responsibility".
