The Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development, Hon. Betty Amongi, presented the “Occupational Safety and Health (Amendment) Bill, 2023” during the parliamentary plenary sitting on Tuesday, 09 January 2024, under the guidance of Speaker Anita Among.
The proposed bill aims to amend the existing 2006 Occupational Safety and Health Act, with a focus on addressing health and safety concerns in all workplaces. Hon. Betty Amongi highlighted the necessity of removing inconsistencies in the principal act and streamlining the Minister’s power to make regulations.
Amongi underscored the need for the amendment by pointing out the significant changes in the workplace landscape since the enactment of the principal act in 2006. Developments such as teleworking, virtual jobs, and the outsourcing and subcontracting of labor necessitate adjustments in legislation to ensure the safety and health of workers.
The proposed legislation is tailored to accommodate the evolving nature of sectors such as telecommunications and the extractive industry. The amendments will address new safety and health challenges arising from increased automation of work, which has reduced the number of workers required in certain activities.
Among the key changes, Clause 4 of the bill seeks to amend Section 14, removing the requirement for workplaces with a minimum of twenty employees to implement health and safety measures. The proposed amendment mandates all employers, regardless of the workforce size, to establish and implement occupational safety and health workplace policies.
If the bill is passed, employers will be obligated to form committees responsible for developing and executing occupational safety and health workplace policies. Additionally, employers must implement measures to prevent exposure to noise, dust, vibration, and other hazards, monitoring these factors as recommended by a risk assessment report.
The bill also introduces litigation procedures related to occupational safety and health challenges. Clause 2 aims to replace Section 9, empowering inspectors to institute legal proceedings before a court for any charges, information, complaints, or other proceedings arising under the Act. This empowerment is to be exercised in consultation with the Director of Public Prosecutions.
