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Takudzwa Chiwereweshe Manicaland Correspondent
Young workers must be empowered to respond efficiently and effectively to different work situations and achieve zero harm, injuries and fatalities at the workplace, a senior Government official has said.

Speaking at the World Day for Safety and Health commemorations held in Mutare recently, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said there was need to empower youths that are old enough to join the labour force through continuous training and education, as they are a vulnerable group prone to workplace deaths, accidents and diseases.

“Data from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) shows that youths who are old enough to join the labour force face a 40 percent greater incidence of injury on the job than their older counterparts”, she said.

ILO representative at the commemorations, Mr Ishmael Urayayi, added that young workers were at more risk as they possessed neither the experience nor the knowledge to refrain from engaging in dangerous work practices that place their lives or health in danger.

“Young workers are more likely to be lacking in education, skills and training, which places them at a greater risk of engaging in dangerous working practices, where older workers might be more cautious,” he said.

He also added that young people usually did not have bargaining power, which placed them at risk of being exploited by employers, for example, being exposed to toxic work environments detrimental to their well-being.

“Young workers are susceptible to unsuitable working conditions. There have been reports of employers refusing to provide young workers with protective clothing placing them at risk.

“Young workers are generally underpaid and exposed to long working hours,” he further observed.

He called on stakeholders to come up with interventions targeted to safeguard and improve the interests of young workers.

“Research indicates that most young workers are employed in the informal sector, which is characterised by unfavourable working conditions, hence the need to strengthen efforts to tackle child labour.”

Mr Urayayi urged Government and workers’ organisations to develop a framework for national programmes of action regarding occupational safety health (OSH) for young workers.

“This involves developing, updating and implementing laws, regulations, policies and guidelines to promote the safety and health of young workers”, he said.

He reiterated the need to empower young workers through education and training to build a safe and health conscious generation of workers.

“It is also important to strengthen advocacy, awareness and research on young workers vulnerability to OSH hazards and risks”, he added.

Mr Urayayi, however stressed that for efforts to be fruitful there was need for greater participation of young people and allowing them to contribute to the creation of an occupational safety and health culture of prevention.