Colombo, Oct. 14 (Daily Mirror) - Labour Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando today said that workplace safety should be treated as an investment in human life rather than an additional cost, saying the value of a worker’s life cannot be measured in monetary terms.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of a seminar held at the Department of Labour in Narahenpita to mark National Occupational Safety and Health Week, he said occupational safety should go beyond meeting legal requirements and become an integral part of workplace culture.
He said employers, employees and all relevant stakeholders shared responsibility for ensuring workers’ health and safety, adding that human life, workers’ rights and dignity must take precedence over economic considerations.
The Minister said that some organisations considered the cost of preventing workplace accidents against the compensation payable following an incident, instead of prioritising the protection of workers.
Referring to workplace safety practices in countries such as Japan, he said strong safety standards were developed through years of experience, social intervention and policy changes.
He also highlighted the need for common safety standards across organisations to ensure that employers investing in worker protection were not placed at a competitive disadvantage.
Commenting on climate change and environmental degradation, Dr. Fernando said collective action was necessary to address these challenges, while economically vulnerable communities often suffered the most from environmental damage and natural disasters.
He said investment in occupational safety could improve employee efficiency and productivity while reducing fatalities, property damage, production disruptions and financial losses caused by accidents.
The Minister also said the Government had introduced policy measures over the past two years to restore economic stability following the crisis, adding that the benefits of such decisions were not always immediately visible.
He pointed out the importance of maintaining economic stability despite external challenges, including climate change, natural disasters and international conflicts.
Deputy Labour Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe, speaking at the event, said occupational safety must become an established culture in every workplace rather than being limited to compliance with legal requirements.
He said that several hazardous incidents, including fires, had been reported at workplaces in Sri Lanka recently, resulting in the loss of valuable human lives.