Department of Employment and Labour in the process to finalise the OHS Act and harsher penalties to follow the non-compliant employers

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Summary:

The South African Department of Employment and Labour is working to strengthen the Occupational Health and Safety Act to prevent work-related accidents and diseases. The Deputy Minister highlighted that 2.3 million people die annually due to work-related accidents or diseases, resulting in significant costs to employers, employees, and economies. The Department is finalizing the OHS Amendment Bill, which aims to impose heavier penalties on non-compliant workplaces and ensure a safe and healthy environment for workers. The iron and steel sector has been identified as a high-risk sector, and the Department has conducted blitz inspections to create awareness and improve compliance. The conference aims to discuss the prevention of injuries and diseases in the iron and steel sector, and media is invited to attend the final day of the conference on Friday.