The Long Wait for Modern Occupational Safety Standards

Jamaica has for decades worked towards a modern occupational safety and health legislation that is applicable to all workplaces. Available data suggests that hundreds of complaints are made to the labour ministry each year, along with a single digit number of work related deaths. The ministry of labour and social security is aiming to enact the occupational safety and health bill this year. But what accounts for the delays to the legislation? And what real issues are being observed in terms of current workplace safety practices? To discuss the issues we are joined in studio by President of the Jamaica Occupational Health and Safety Professionals Association, Dr. Yohann White and Attorney-At-Law and Employment Law Specialist Khadrea Folkes.