The field of occupational safety and health remains vulnerable

The organizational changes of the institutions with control functions operated in order to reduce the pressure of the state controls on entrepreneurship and the optimization of the budgetary expenditures were not made in accordance with the international provisions.

This is one of the main conclusions of the study “The impact of governmental reform in the reorganization of state control on occupational safety and health”, author Mariana Iaţco, associate expert of the “Viitorul” Institute for Development and Social Initiatives (IDIS Viitorul) was discussed during a public debate, organized on May 30, by IDIS “Viitorul” in partnership with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.

Speaking about this issue, Elena Carchilan, head of the Labour Inspectorate of Trade Unions, testified that the effect of the state control reform on occupational safety and health is negative. This, because she explained, although the state control duties related to occupational safety and health, which were of the State Labour Inspectorate, were transferred to other 10 agencies, only 4 of these entities have organizational and operational regulations, ie with low efficiency.

On May 29, 2018 the State Labour Inspectorate reported 154 accidents, of which: fatal – 21 with 24 persons; serious – 2 with 6 persons and 131 with temporary incapacity for work. The reported data on work-related accidents may be more, but they are not announced on the grounds that people are not clear where to communicate them, or the managers of the entities do not communicate them to the State Labour Inspectorate.

Since October 27, 2017, serious and fatal accidents have not been investigated and no research papers have been drawn up. CNSM expresses its concern about the real situation of occupational health and safety in the Republic, the delay in the term of work accident research and the fact that employees are not protected at the workplace.

Expressing the position of the National Trade Union Confederation of Moldova, Sergiu Sainciuc, vice-president of CNSM, noted that Moldovan trade unions did not oppose the reform of the control bodies but were against the actual liquidation of the State Labour Inspectorate against the abolition of the powers with which that institution was empowered.

In this context, Sergiu Sainciuc pointed out that there is clear legislation in our country regarding the field of occupational safety and health, which must be strictly observed. That is why he said the trade unions will continue to monitor their observance. The vice-president of the CNSM welcomed the fact that the Government is willing to improve the work on occupational safety and health by reforming the competent public institutions.

Department of mass media and international relations